Author: Alice Scherer
Author: Kathlyn Moss
Photographer: Tommy Olof Elder
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers
Beadwork, the last of the traditional crafts to be discovered by fine artists, has undergone a revolution in the past two decades. Creative men and women, interested in its unique qualities of color, light reflection, refraction, and texture, are exploring its rich possibilities for fine detail and spectacular pattern. Kathlyn Moss, an important beadwork artist, and Alice Scherer, founder and director of the Center for the Study of Beadwork in Portland, Oregon, provide a survey of the best recent work in the medium. Their choices range from traditional wall hangings and jewelry to highly original and experimental pieces, including narrative sculptures, game boards, vessels, installation pieces, and wearable art.