For our December meeting, we are fortunate to present Mary Jane Leland, who will share her collection of Hainan Island textiles with us. Hainan Island is off the tip of China, and is being quickly developed for tourist use. So, like other tribal areas in the region, it is in danger of losing its historical practices. Mary Jane started collecting textiles to show to her classes at UCLA and later Cal State Long Beach. She will discuss her collection of approximately 20 woven long and short skirts, jackets, coats and head pieces woven in cotton and some in bast fiber. The long and short tube skirts are woven in strips, often using supplementary warps or wefts and sewn together. Some are intricately brocaded in silk. Some are woven in ikat with pictorial subjects.
Information on these pieces is rare, and this will be a unique opportunity for Mary Jane to share her
knowledge with us. It is a hands on session, but you won’t need to wear white cotton gloves, just be
gentle with these textiles. Mary Jane, who started the Cal State Long Beach Textile program, will soon be
donating these textiles to the UCLA Fowler Museum. Mary Jane also suggests you bring your pick glass or
linen tester to get a closer look at these fabulous weavings.
General program questions can be directed to the Program Committee. We hope to see you at the December meeting!