Artwork copyright Margaret Burlew. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1985.

Jewel Shadows, 1979

Margaret Burlew
American (born 1908, died 2007)

Location: Lacey Elementary, Lacey

About the Artwork

Jewel Shadows is a handwoven silk hanging created by artist Margaret Burlew. She created the colorful design using an ikat warp technique. She tied and dyed specific lengths of yarn before weaving. Ikat is an Indonesian term that means "wrapping to pattern." She notes, "In this warp ikat, the vertical threads were tied and dyed, then put on the loom to be woven. This accounts for the vertical bleeding between color blocks. The weft or filler is dyed in the same colors and woven as in tapestry. The choice of colors often appears in the Flathead Valley sunsets reflected in potholes and streams."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with North Thurston Public Schools.

About the Artist

Montana-based fiber artist Margaret Burlew (1908-2007) was born in Seattle. She graduated from the University of Washington, Seattle with a degree in Mathematics. She taught weaving and at Stockton Junior College in CA, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She was a founding member, past president, and chairman of the Handweavers Guild of America.