FWM Story by the Yard: Toshiko Takaezu's Soft Moons in the Garden

A story about the life and work of Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011), one of the past FWM Artists-in-Residence featured in the group exhibition "Hard/Cover," on view at The Fabric Workshop and Museum through September 26, 2021.
"Hard/Cover" looks closely at the relationship between time, process, and space in developing an interdisciplinary practice. Framed by celebrated works from past Artists-in-Residence working at FWM in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, as well as tableaus and scenes created by contemporary artists, the exhibition considers how changes in one’s creative practice can open up new pathways of conveying integral ideas. For artists like Takaezu, a collective shift away from utilitarian function toward aesthetic and emotive properties illustrated tension in a world that did not easily make room for female artists with a material-focused practice. Now, more than three decades later, contemporary artists embrace interdisciplinary practices that move between function, pleasure, and critical discourse.
This Story by the Yard illustrates key movements in Takaezu's life and artistic practice, including the development of her "soft moons" while in residence at FWM.
Story, narration, and editing by Katie Parry. Illustrations by Serena Niesley.
Learn more about "Hard/Cover" and reserve tickets at www.fabricworkshopandmuseum.org.