Janice Lessman-Moss: Better Off Believin', Step 1

Exhibition

Kaleidoscopic Dreamcoats: Central Asian Ikat Robes
Mull Gallery, November 29, 2000 to December 2, 2002
Anne Bissonnette, Curator

Better Off Believin'
Janice Lessman-Moss
Linen, cotton and metal wire. Copyright 7/99

Step 1

Janice Lessman-Moss began this work by choosing white thread to form the warp, or longitudinal, threads. She bound these threads selectively in sections with ikat tape before immersing them in black dye. Ikat tape is a transparent cellophane-like material that shrinks somewhat when heated and prevents the yarn from absorbing the dye. After dyeing, the tape was removed and the threads were placed, or "dressed" on the loom. Thin weft, or horizontal, threads were interlaced through the warp several inches from each other to form a loosely woven cloth. This first temporary weaving held the warp in position while additional color was applied with a brush. Unlike traditional ikat, which requires a time-consuming binding process, most of the color in this piece was painted directly on the warp.