For geographers and other social scientists, place is not simply a physical location. The concept of place includes both tangible and intangible characteristics, and it reflects the ever-changing nature of a geographical area. For instance, a neighborhood is not only composed of buildings, streets, and people, but also of:
Sounds … smells … activities … climate … and history
All these features merge and evolve, creating the unique culture that characterizes a particular place at a particular time.

Textiles are often key elements in defining a sense of place. Around the world, quilted, appliquéd, and pieced textiles help create specific spaces, especially temporary and ceremonial ones. Weddings, religious services, community meetings, the welcoming of guests—all these activities are augmented through use of carefully formed fabric surroundings. These spaces are enhanced by the cloth’s:
Texture … materials … imagery … workmanship … and beauty
Creating carefully crafted cloth environments is a global practice that results in special spaces filled variously with sanctity, intimacy, mystery, hospitality, and grandeur.

April 7 - September 30, 2023
Gottsch Gallery