Panel Entitled "ABC Drawn Quilt"

<p>Cynthia Schira made this work on a digital Jacquard handloom, a loom in which the wefts are inserted by the weaver while the pattern is controlled by a computer. Schira was one of the first artists to experiment with this technology, which was developed in the 1990s. It allowed her to produce a wider range of surface textures than would have been practical with a less sophisticated mechanism. <em>ABC Drawn Quilt</em> marks the beginning of a series called <em>Intersecting Traditions</em> (1998–2005), which employed traditional textile motifs represented by visual fragments and symbols. Here, the artist referenced the use of multiple blocks, or pattern elements, to form a whole, pieced quilt.</p>