Sight Unseen: The Davis Reveals Its Hidden Tapestries
Sep 16 2015 – Oct 25 2015
Nov 3 2015 - Dec 13 2015
The Davis takes an unprecedented look at a rarely studied area its encyclopedic holdings, to offer two rotations of tapestries from the 15th to 18th centuries. Although tapestries were among the most costly and important objects created in the Early Modern period, they are often relegated to storage in American museums due to their large size and light sensitivity.
Taking advantage of the open floor plan as we prepare for the Fall 2016 reinstallation of the permanent collections galleries, we seize the opportunity to unroll them, photograph them, and assess their conservation needs. This exhibition further highlights the Davis as a repository of a great wealth and diversity of objects.
Co-curated by Meredith Fluke, Kemper Curator of Academic Programs, Eve Straussman-
Pflanzer, Assistant Director of Curatorial Affairs/Senior Curator of Collections, and Claire Whitner, Associate Curator. The exhibition and related programs are supported entirely through the generosity of Wellesley College Friends of Art, now celebrating 50 years of giving.
Sight Unseen: Tapestry Unrolling Demonstration
Tuesday, November 3 |1:00 - 4:00pm |Dorothy Johnston Towne Gallery
During this drop-in program, visitors have the extremely rare opportunity to view the unrolling of the Davis’s large-scale tapestries in Sight Unseen. Join textile conservators and Davis curatorial staff in discovering these heretofore unseen gems.
For press information, please visit: https://www.wellesley.edu/davismuseum/press