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Simon Peers, British, designer, b. 1958
Nicholas Godley, American, designer, b. 1969
Shawl, 2009
Handwoven golden orb (Nephila madagascariensis) filaments, handwoven in Madagascar
On loan from Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley

Introduction

The Art and Design of Spider Silk

September 27, 2019 - April 19, 2020

Since ancient times, fiber production and weaving have been associated with spiders and their silken webs, long enchanting artists around the world. Spider silk is a unique and extremely rare material: its tensile strength, heat conductivity, fineness, and elasticity remain unmatched, and its natural golden color is lustrous and astonishing.

Artists and designers have recently been joined by a host of engineers looking to reimagine new applications for this biodegradable and immensely sustainable material. For many researchers, the ultimate goal of replicating spider silk is to wean consumers off petrochemical-based fabrics such as nylon and spandex.

This exhibition highlights recent low-tech and cutting-edge examples in the evolving artistry and biotechnology of spider silk. These works are presented in conversation with historical design examples celebrating spiders and their webs.

Laurie Anne Brewer
Associate Curator, Costume and Textiles
RISD Museum

Events

Think and Drink

Think and Drink

Spider Silk
January 16, 2020 / 6-8 pm

More Events

Selected Objects

Utagawa Hiroshige

Sparrow and Spider (Suzume to Kumo), 1853.12

Japanese

Textile-printing stencil (kumo katagami), 1850–1907

French

Dress, ca. 1927

French Possibly

Textile Border, ca. 1915

French

Textile Border, ca. 1927

Endo Taigaku

Swallow and Spider (Tsubame to kumo), 1830 - 1844

French Possibly

Textile Trim, ca. 1915

Jim Hodges

Untitled, 1992

Sally Gall

Web # 4, 2009

Sruli Recht

An Emperor’s New Untangling, 2012

Raf Simons

Spider Web Sweater, Radioactivity, Autumn/Winter 1998-99

Strumpet & Pink, design label

Willow's Web, 2019

More objects +

Exhibition Checklist

The Art and Design of Spider Silk

September 27, 2019 - April 19, 2020
View Checklist PDF

RISD Museum

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