GALLERY den HAAG

ART & POETRY - ACCUMULATIONS

INTRODUCTION + POETRY + MUSIC + ESSAYS + TRAVEL + FICTION + TEXTILE ART + HAAG'S BIO


TEXTILE ART

BY JAN HAAG




Over a period of thirty-three years I have created twenty-three works in needlepoint. The collection contains works based on my journeys and studies. They have been shown in solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Marin County and, most recently, at SAAM, the Seatttle Asian Art Museum.



The needlepoints are primarily meant to be, like Oriental carpets, both useful objects and artifacts of delight. As Christopher Alexander says in reference to Turkish carpets: "...the geometry of the color embodies the light."

Over the years, working on these pieces has become one of my primary ways of understanding both the world and my experience of it. The works, like much "grid art" work, transmits knowledge. Not only the powerful subjective awareness of light and color, but the pleasure associated with study -- in this case, study of music, astronomy, mathematics, travel, archaeology, and the iconographic, mystical and esoteric traditions of many cultures.

In the 21st Century, according to the Western way of keeping time, the world has become one and each culture, like the pearls in Indra's net, reflects the whole. My hope is that people seeing these needlepoints will first be attracted by their beauty, then, like bees visiting a flower, stay to savor the honey of their meaning.






THE NEEDLEPOINTS

INTRODUCTION TO THE NEEDLEPOINTS





NOTE: As many of the needlepoints as possible have been scanned directly into the computer. Others are scanned from slides and transparencies shot by Paul Macapia of the Seattle Art Museum and Craig Kolb of Sausalito, California. The photograph of the artist (above) at work on the Mukhra/Tukra/Chakradar in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in San Rafael was taken by Craig and Judith Bang-Kolb.

Each needlepoing is accompnied by a text giving the history of its creation and an explication of the meanings encoded in its design. Some of the works are still in progress.

It delights me that for the first time in history, via cyberspace, one can actually watch the creative process in action. For me, this process is characterized by "bursts of brilliant, but often difficult to capture, insights followed by thousands upon thousands of minute and precise decisions." Aside from the use of cyberspace for Textile Art, I also write and edit poetry, fiction and essays, etc. directly on the NET -- partly because, in my youth, I would have given anything to watch a writer bring a work to into being.

The seamless perfection of so much writing always made me feel that I could never learn to do it myself. But now, late in life, my "way" is to tumble out chaos in a first draft, then slowly refine it, often finding what I want to say and just how to say it during the editing process. I hope that by asking the Muse to help me as I work on the NET, it will encourage other writers/artists to invite their Muses to help them create in cybersapce as well.

The 21st CENTURY ART, C.E.-B.C., A Context, section os this Website shows the work of some of the great practitioners of the Grid Arts from as far back as art began to the present. This section, too, as all work cyberspace, is in a state of transition. Enjoy the equilibrium of today, it may change tomorrow.

Please be aware that unless you are seeing the Needlepoint pages as Black Background, Gold Text, Red Links and Blue VLinks -- all true, vivid colors -- you will probably not be seeing the true colors of the needlepoints.





THE NEEDLEPOINTS


INTRODUCTION TO THE NEEDLEPOINTS

I The I Ching

II The Unicorn

III Green Pillow

IV Armrests

V Narcissus

VI Chinese Chair Pillow

VII Great Grandmother's Legacy

VIIa OM

VIII Octagonal Beanbag

IX Flora and Fauna Beanbag

X Asian Diary #1, Kundalini

XI Asian Diary #2

XII Tibetan Yantra Beanbag

XIII Kalachakra

XIV Eye of Horus Amulet

XV Erika Sachet

XVI Needlepoint-Cattipoint

XVII Palimpsest

XVIII Cantalloc

THE FOLLOWING NEEDLEPOINTS ARE BASED ON THE RHYTHMS AND MELODY OF

NORTH INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

XIX Tintal Coin Purse

XX Kaida, Tabla Covers

XXI Tukra, Tabla Covers

XXII Mukhra-Tukra-Chakradar

XXIII The Ten Thats, in progress




WORKSHOPS AND PRIVATE LESSONS IN NEEDLEPOINT DESIGN






Also visit


21st CENTURY ART, C.E.-B.C., A Context





Copyright © 2005 Jan Haag
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Jan Haag may be reached via e-mail: jhaag@u.washington.edu


BY JAN HAAG



ART & POETRY - ACCUMULATIONS

INTRODUCTION + POETRY + MUSIC + ESSAYS + TRAVEL + FICTION + TEXTILE ART + HAAG'S BIO