TEXTILE ART

TEXTILE ART- IS THE PROCESS OF CREATING SOMETHING USING FIBERS GAINED FROM
SOURCES LIKE PLANTS, ANIMALS, INSECTS (THINK SILK WORMS!), OR SYNTHETIC
MATERIALS
EXAMPLES OF SUCH TEXTILES INCLUDE TAPESTRIES, RUGS, QUILTS, AND OF
COURSE CLOTHING. PEOPLE ALSO USED TEXTILES TO MAKE OBJECTS THAT
SIGNALED STATUS OR COMMEMORATED IMPORTANT EVENTS. EXAMPLES OF THIS
TYPE OF TEXTILE INCLUDE THINGS LIKE FLAGS, MILITARY UNIFORMS, OR
CEREMONIAL BANNERS.
Many cultures around the world have distinct methods of making textiles by using
materials available to them, and some have become famous over the centuries like
Chinese silks or Turkish rugs. Today, many contemporary artists work with fibers and
textiles in new and exciting ways.

YARNS AND THREADS

TEXTILES ARE OFTEN MADE THROUGH TRADITIONAL METHODS LIKE SEWING, WEAVING, AND
KNITTING. THESE METHODS ALL HAVE A BASIC PRINCIPLE IN COMMON -- THEY USE THREAD OR
YARN TO MAKE OR CONNECT PIECES OF FABRIC. IN SEWING, A SINGLE NEEDLE AND THREAD
STITCHES PIECES OF CLOTH TOGETHER AND ALSO ADDS SURFACE ORNAMENT. EMBROIDERY,
COVERING THE SURFACE OF A TEXTILE WITH DECORATIVE PICTURES AND COLORFUL PATTERNS,
IS A FORM OF SEWING.
WEAVING INVOLVES INTERLACING TWO SETS OF THREADS. THESE ARE CALLED THE WARP, WHICH
RUNS VERTICALLY, AND THE WEFT, WHICH RUNS HORIZONTALLY. WEAVING REQUIRES USING A
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT CALLED A LOOM. THE WARP THREADS ARE HELD TIGHT AND THE WEFT
THREADS ARE FED THROUGH THEM. MERGING THE TWO TOGETHER IS THE PROCESS OF WEAVING.
LET'S LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE. THE NATIVE CHILKAT PEOPLES, WHO LIVE ALONG THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA, MADE BEAUTIFUL, ELABORATE BLANKETS BY WEAVING
WARP THREADS MADE OF CEDAR-BARK STRING WITH WEFT THREADS SPUN FROM MOUNTAIN
GOAT OR SHEEP WOOL.
Knitting is one of the oldest and simplest means of making a fabric..
The process of knitting involves connecting the yarn by a series of
loops. It's normally done by hand, although there are such things as
knitting machines. Clothing and blankets can be knitted, and today
some artists also get creative with public art by doing something
called yarnbombing. Yarnbombing involves covering items in the
neighborhood or external environment, like cars, bicycles or trees,
with knitting.
Example of Yarnbombing
o T’NALAK PROCESS
-T’nalak is a sacred cloth woven by the T'boli people in communities around Lake
Sebu, Mindanao island. Traditionally made by women of royal blood, thousands of
patterns that reference folklore and stories are known to the T’boli women by
memory. Fu Dalu, a spiritual guardian, guides t’nalak weaving, a process that is
enriched with taboo and ritual.
T’nalak has a distinctive tri-colour scheme: White for the pattern, red for relief
elements and black (or deep brown) for the background. Fibres used in weaving
are harvested from the abaca tree and prepared in a process known
as kedungon. Two metal blades are used to quickly remove the pulp and reveal
the filaments, which are worked by hand into fine threads. During tembong, an
artisan will connect individual threads end to end. Temogo, or dyeing, is done in
the ikat-style, using beeswax and natural pigments. Fibres are first boiled in a
black dye for several weeks. Weaving (mewel) is done on a backstrap loom
(legogong) and weaving one piece of cloth can take up to a month of
uninterrupted work. The final stage in the process, semaki, involves burnishing the
fabric with a cowrie shell that is heated by friction. Nut oil is used to condition the
fabric and add sheen.
T’NALAK AND T’BOLI ART
T'nalak is a traditional cloth found in Mindanao island made by a group of people
in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato called T'bolis, Tboli people. This traditional cloth is hand-
woven made of Abaca fibers which traditionally has three primary colors, red, black
and the original color of the Abaca leaves. The colorant of the materials are naturally
dyed boiled in with bark, roots and leaves of plants. It is an heritage and believed that
the intricate and creative patterns of the Tinalak was seen on their dreams and made it
on to work. They can't create a design of the Tinalak if they haven't dreamed of it. They
are sometimes called the "Dream Weavers".
EXAMPLE OF T’NALAK ART
The T’Boli metalcraft tradition distinguishes. T’Boli culture
and is linked to Glinton, the god of metalwork, who
occupies a stellar place in the T’Boli pantheon.
T’boli metalwork consists of bracelets and solid anklets.
A recent product of the metalwork tradition is the T’Boli
figurine. T’Boli weaving is another skill that has been raised
to the level of art. Their traditional cloth, the t’nalak is
made of krungon(abaca fiber) extracted from the mature
fruit bearing, wild abaca.
T’BOLI ART AND PRODUCT
This cloth is known locally as dagmay. It is distinguished from other tribal
weaving by the intricate figures and patterns depicting the folklores and
religion of the tribe. The Mandaya have carried the human and crocodile
motifs to their highest expression. The crocodile is held sacred as shown by
the frequency with which it appears in their decorative design. This art is
handed down from generation. There is no patterns copy. Each design is an
expression of the weaver. the unique culture of dagmay weaving by the
Mandayan tribe earn them the title "Lumad that Weave Dagmay"
PIS-YABIT SEPUTANGAN Pis
Siyabit or Pis Syabit is the prized handwoven cloth of
the Tausugs of Sulu. Usually used as head covering, it is
made from cotton or silk, square in shape and provided
with geometric patterns.

It can also be worn on the shoulder, knotted around

the hilt of the sword, or tied around the head among
the Tausug men. Pis Siyabit is usually seen being worn
during weddings and other Tausug occasions as a
symbol of colorful history and rank.

In modern times, pis siyabit is also used to decorate

households such as frames, curtains, and as giveaways.
Inaul
For the Maguindanao, weaving is a spiritual exercise and one of the highest
forms of artistic expression. The inaul (pronounced “inol”), the
Maguindanao traditional fabric, depicts the community’s rich Muslim
culture and heritage with its striking colors, intricate brocade patterns, and
use of metallic threads. The dominant colors of the inaul symbolize virtues
and qualities that are valued in Mindanao culture: red for bravery, orange
and yellow for royalty, green for peace and tranquility, black for dignity,
and white for purity and mourning.