Kyrgyz Textiles & Vault Tour at the Nickle Galleries

Age: 14+

Part I: Exhibition Tour - Kyrgyz Textiles: Introducing the John L. Sommer Collection

In late 2023 Nickle Galleries was fortunate to receive a remarkable donation of textiles from Kyrgyzstan significantly expanding our holdings of Central Asian textiles. In addition to important examples of felt textiles and carpets, the donation introduces a series of reed screens or chiy—rare textiles that are deeply rooted in Kyrgyz nomadic traditions. While the technique of turning reeds or grasses into textiles is practiced widely, the Kyrgyz are masters at embellishing their screens, wrapping each reed with precise patterns that are revealed only after being woven together. These remarkable, typically ephemeral textiles were used for a variety of purposes—from small covers, containers, and suspended shelves to large-scale walls and screens. Reed screens share a rich repertoire of patterns, colours, and motifs with other Kyrgyz textiles, particularly carpets, felts, and embroidery.

This tour will introduce how chiy are made and used and share the remarkable story of how the collection came to Nickle Galleries.

Part II: Behind the Scenes Vault Tour - Women and Textiles in the Collections of Nickle Galleries

What can collections tell us about the lives of women? About how they lived? Their priorities and choices? Nickle Galleries has a rich collection of historic carpets and textiles from Asia, specifically West and Central Asia. Careful study of this material suggests how the makers (typically, women) exploited local resources to care for families, to instill beauty and identity while negotiating change. From war and colonization to the introduction of new markets and technologies, the textiles of Asia can be viewed as ongoing attempts, by women, to navigate the future.

Nickle Galleries curator, Michele Hardy will lead this intimate, behind-the-scenes tour of the textile vault sharing evocative textiles from the collection.
Michele Hardy is a curator, anthropologist and textile specialist who has worked with the collection for almost two decades. She is the grateful recipient of the Alberta Craft Council’s Tom McFall Honour Award for 2023.

This tour is for ages 14+
More info