The Institute of Fine Arts Conservation Center, New York University is 
offering a 1 day workshop,
Understanding Textiles:  Continuous Pattern

Instructor: Milton Sonday
August 23, 2004
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fee: $120.00
Application Deadline: July 23, 2004

The study of textiles for research and conservation relies on a broad 
range of skills and knowledge, not readily attained in traditional 
training situations.  The Understanding Textiles series of seminars has 
been organized in response to this need.  Continuous Pattern is a part 
of this series.  The subject of this one-day seminar is the analysis 
and discussion of patterns that continue endlessly without interruption 
and the means by which they were achieved – think of wallpaper that is 
planned to cover a limitless surface.

Each participant will be provided with a series of photocopies of 
patterns from many cultures and periods to be cut up, dissected, or 
reconstructed. The goal is to identify and isolate the unit that 
contains everything that is to be repeated and determine how that unit 
was laid out to form a continuous pattern. This will lead to a study of 
the aesthetic values of the pattern such as rhythm, points of emphasis, 
relationship between motif and background, and style.  Most of the 
continuous patterns are those that were woven, but some will have been 
printed. No prior experience with either weaving or printing is 
required.

This seminar offers an opportunity to learn about a subject that we 
take for granted, but one that is almost never discussed.

This seminar will take place at the Conservation Center, 14 East 78th 
Street, New York, NY.

For more information and application form see: 
http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/fineart/ifa/curriculum/courses.htm 


Shelley Sass
Program Coordinator
Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU
14 E. 78th Street, New York, NY 10021
(212) 992- 5852  fax (212) 992-5851