Barkcloth is a type of non-woven textile, made directly from the inner bark of trees through a process of soaking, fermentation, and beating. Throughout history, barkcloth has been made for everyday and ceremonial uses, and could be found all along the migratory routes of Austronesian-speaking ancestors. "The Making of Barkcloth: Place, Gender, and Trans-Local Community" invites you to explore the interconnectedness among the vast waters through the lens of barkcloth, the voyagers and makers who traverse these vast waters illuminate a form of mobility that transcends geographical regional boundaries. In the exhibition, we will take a close look at barkcloth – from the front, the back, and magnified – examining the surface and the structure. Similarly, contemporary artists and designers examine and innovate upon traditional techniques. And scholars dig into the archives to examine the fissures and faults of historic records. This is a journey along the ocean, connecting art and science, past and future.
The exhibition is curated by Human Centered Design PhD Student Iris Luo '27 and funded in part by the Charlotte Jirousek Fellowship.