Artwork copyright Dale Gottlieb. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Happy Times, 2002

Dale Gottlieb
(American, born 1952)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Tacoma

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Happy Times is part of a series of "Story Rugs" by Northwest textile artist Dale Gottlieb. She created this artwork in celebration of community and freedom of expression. It is partly inspired by Gottlieb's childhood in 1950s Brooklyn. Her neighborhood was diverse, multi-generational, and welcoming. She notes, "Learning other people's stories still inspires my work." She fabricated the rug in collaboration with a Tibetan Buddhist family who produce rugs using traditional hand-knotting techniques.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Tacoma School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Northwest artist Dale Gottlieb creates rugs, paintings, and children's books that depict narrative imagery inspired by literature, folklore and history. She notes that "My work is about freedom and often inspired by people's stories about their struggle to live free from persecution."

Gottlieb earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Alfred University in New York State in 1975. She lives and works in Bellingham, Northwestern Washington. In 2003, the Whatcom Museum curated the exhibition "Story Rugs: Tales of Freedom: The Work of Dale Gottlieb".