Vanessa Drake Moraga

A dynamic, bold, exploration of the breadth of the Kuba design aesthetic and its lasting impact on early twentieth-century modernism through to the present day. The textiles of the historic, multi-ethnic Kuba kingdom, (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), represent the most intact and cohesive tradition in the region, and are exceptional for their artistic caliber, graphic sophistication, and complexity of style. The written story of Kuba cloth begins with encounters in the early sixteenth century between the coastal Congo kingdoms and European explorers who were impressed by the elegance and intricacy of Congo weaving. In the early twentieth century the Kuba improvisational abstract aesthetic captivated the Western avant-garde, influencing fashion, fabric design, and the decorative arts. In addition to presenting full colour plates of up to fifty pieces, Designing Dynamism features illustrations of modern European textiles, contemporary woven Wesley Mancini fabrics and an illustrated introduction to Kuba textiles. The volume also includes an essay on Kuba design and its influence on modern and contemporary designers, and an essay by the only African American to have won the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award in Product Design. A brief illustrated section focuses on the embroidery techniques of prestige cloths. AUTHORS: Vanessa Drake Moraga is an independent researcher, curator and writer specializing in the textile arts. Annie Carlano is senior Curator of Craft, Design & Fashion at The Mint Museum, NC. Stephen Burks is an award-winning designer and a professor of architecture at Columbia University. Joel Smeltzer is the head of School and Gallery Programs at The Mint Museum, NC. SELLING POINTS: . Bold graphic designs of Kuba textiles appeal to a wide community of contemporary artists, designers and makers. . African design and Kuba patterning remain a bountiful resource for artists and designers today. . Will appeal to students and teachers of contemporary African design, design practice, material technology, and applied art. 81 colour illustrations

The African continent is home to numerous outstanding textile traditions, many dating to antiquity and all playing a multifaceted role in their respective societies: these eye-catching fabrics proclaim wealth and status, convey symbolic meanings, and of course serve a practical function in garments both ordinary and exceptional. This magnificent book conveys the amazing diversity of African textiles, from the geometric-patterned kente cloths of Ghana, to the multicolour raffia skirts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the beaded barkcloths once reserved for Ugandan royalty. The authors, all leading experts in the field, examine each region of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar in turn, elucidating the aesthetic qualities, cultural significance, and production methods of the most important textile traditions. Their authoritative text is illustrated with over 300 superlative textiles from public and private collections, many reproduced as full-page plates that allow the reader to appreciate each individual fibre. This impressive clothbound volume will be a key reference for students and scholars, an essential sourcebook for designers, and a delight for all art lovers.