Lecture by Nancy Arthur Hoskins:
COPTIC EGYPTIAN TEXTILES
and
THE ARCHAEOLOGIST OF ANTINOÉ, ALBERT GAYET
Thursday, May 20, 2010
2 - 3:30 pm
Singer Room (2nd Floor)
Eugene Public Library
100 W. 10th Ave.
Frescoes, paintings, mosaics, and sculptures from all over the Roman Empire depict distinctive textiles decorated with tapestry such as those found in Coptic Egyptian burial sites (3rd -7th Century A.D.). The colorful ornaments illustrate birds, fish, fruit, flowers, figures, portraits, geometric motifs, religious symbols, and narrative scenes both classical and Christian. The tapestries and other textiles reveal the rich cultural construct of the time and place in which they were created. The lecture will focus on Hoskins’ book about the Archaeologist of Antinoé (an important Roman Period city in Egypt), Albert Gayet, and his connection with the unique collection of tapestry fragments at the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington. She will present still images from her museum research in over fifty museums and a display of her own personal collection of one thousand year old Coptic fragments.
About Nancy Arthur Hoskins
Researcher and Author on Egyptian Textiles
Nancy Arthur Hoskins, a former college weaving instructor, is the author of The Coptic Tapestry Albums and the Archaeologist of Antinoé, Albert Gayet; Universal Stitches for Weaving, Embroidery, and Other Fiber Arts; Weft-Faced Pattern Weaves: Tabby to Taqueté; and numerous articles. She has contributed chapters about Egyptian textiles to four other books. Her background includes a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts (Weaving), Art Education and Art History from the University of Oregon. Nancy has researched Coptic collections in over fifty museums and has presented lectures and workshops for national and international guilds and conferences. Hoskins’ art fabrics have been in solo, group, and invitational exhibits. In 2009 she led The Textiles of Egypt Tour in Egypt for Active Travel.