Janice Sullivan's "Gold Coast" Dowry to San Francisco

Gold Coast, a wall hanging by textile artist Janice Sullivan

From ancient time to present day, textiles have been incorporated into ritual and ceremony in all world cultures. In Greece, weavers honored the goddess each year with textile offerings. The bridal cloth, in particular, has been the most cherished and important gift in many African and Asian ceremonies. In Europe, the bride’s dowry was always furnished with the family’s hand made linens. In American Indian culture, wealth was accumulated and measured by the textiles a family owned. 

The concept of woven cloth as a symbol of celebration and an element of ritual has been an initial focal point of inspiration in my work. My intentions are to create textiles that are ceremonial in their own right. This piece was created using the technique of double weave that was shaped on the loom as I wove it. Once off the loom part was painted with textile paints. The materials are metallic thread, rayon and textile paint.
—Janice Sullivan