Talking Threads

Curated by Karlyn Benson

Talking Threads features seven artists who create narratives using textiles in a variety of ways. Sewing, quilting, weaving and embroidery have long been used to communicate information, with almost every culture having some sort of textile tradition to tell the stories of their society. The artists in Talking Threads are part of a growing movement in contemporary art that utilizes fabric and fiber to experiment with unconventional processes, push traditional mediums in new directions and explore personal histories. The artists included are Eozen Agopian, Melissa Dadourian, Ana Maria Farina, Courtney Puckett, Padma Rajendran, Richard Saja and Hanna Washburn.

Karlyn Benson is a curator based in Beacon, NY. She was recently Interim Curator and Exhibitions Manager at The Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz. Previously she was Director at Fridman Gallery, Beacon, NY. Benson was the owner/director of Matteawan Gallery in Beacon from 2013 to 2018 where she curated 56 exhibitions and worked with over 70 artists. Prior to Matteawan Gallery, she worked in the Registration and Collection Management department at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Benson received an MA in Art History from the University of Texas, Austin and a BA in Art History from SUNY Purchase. She has lived in the Hudson Valley since 2003.