In the Curator’s Words is an occasional series that takes a critical look at current exhibitions through the eyes of curators.
Visions Museum of Textile Art’s vision statement gets right to the heart of its reason for being: “To inspire a world where textile art ignites curiosity, fosters understanding, educates, and empowers individuals to connect deeply with themselves, each other, and the broader cultural fabric of society.”
Its new exhibit, titled “Interpretations 2025,” does exactly that.
Curator Armando Garcia-Orso talks about the juried exhibition, which opened in October and continues to be on view through Jan. 31 at the Liberty Station museum.
Visions Museum of Textile Art curator Armando Garcia-Orso, left, talks to patrons about “Interpretations 2025.” (Steve Colburn)
Q: Tell us more about “Interpretations 2025” and why it’s such a labor of love for the Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA).
A: Biennials have become a structural component of the art world. They present, in a single setting, a dynamic showcase of contemporary art from across the globe. They combine entertainment, education and competition simultaneously — an approach that sets them apart from traditional museum exhibitions. Unlike the static displays found in permanent collection galleries, biennials are fundamentally event-based exhibitions. This multifaceted nature is key to what differentiates them from the more conventional formats seen in art museums.
For Visions Museum of Textile Art, our biennials have become a meeting point with artists, among themselves and with the public, providing a unique and educational dynamic. With this in mind, our first “Interpretations” biennial was organized in 2009, highlighting 2D and 3D textile techniques, as a complement to our alternating biennial “Quilt Visions,” which focuses solely on art quilts. The “Interpretations” biennial is a reflection of the creative power of textile art. It intersects with fashion, design, architecture, anthropology and history, and the limitless nature of textile techniques elevates its value as art.
Q: Since it’s a juried exhibition with pieces from all over the world, share a little bit about the logistical challenges of trying to coordinate work from around the globe.
A: “Interpretations 2025” beautifully embodies the mission of the Visions Museum of Textile Art: to celebrate and advance contemporary quilting and textile art through exhibitions that explore cultural traditions, contemporary relevance and innovative creativity. This captivating biennial juried exhibition features some of the most groundbreaking textile art being created today. With artists hailing from across the globe, the show fosters connection and uplifts the human spirit through the boundless creativity found in thread, fabric and fiber.
Now in this edition, the exhibition stands as a tribute to our shared artistic energy.
This year, we received more than 400 proposals from local, national and international artists, which resulted in a great challenge for our jury composed of Holly Brackmann, Luisa Gil Fandino and Paula Kovarik. As a result, the largest number of pieces in the history of “Interpretations” was selected, 41 works of art. Each piece selected for the “Interpretations 2025” international juried exhibition reflects outstanding artistic vision, technical mastery and aesthetic excellence — true to the museum’s founding commitment to elevating textile art as a form of fine art.
While we are proud to host seven international artists in this exhibit, new challenges arose this year through tariff challenges we encountered. Though temporary art on exhibition was previously exempt from these tariffs, confusion around the new rules experienced by the artists, our institution and customs made it more difficult to support our international artists than we’ve previously experienced. Additionally, fear around changing visa and immigration policies made it unsettling for some to want to travel to celebrate the opening of this new exhibit. We are honored that the artists continued to entrust us throughout the process so we can continue to uplift international perspectives for our community.
“The smile” by the French artist Chrystel Floriot. (Chrystel Floriot)
Q: Please share some details about a couple of unique pieces in this exhibition.
A: One of the unique pieces in this exhibition is “The smile” by the French artist Chrystel Floriot, which received the prized Visions Award by the Visions Giving Circle and the VMOTA Board of Directors. In this piece, made with nylon mesh traditionally used for a hat veil or “fishnet,” visitors can come close to see the details of the material together with an impression of emptiness, but from afar, a realistic image takes shape, combined with fascinating optical effects. Floriot enjoys using and giving a new life to these diverted and disappeared materials, creating a dual interpretation, halfway between reality and illusion.
Another unique piece is “Threads of Time / Lyon Weavers’ Staircase #1” by Cameron Taylor Brown, from South Los Angeles. This piece was made with linen, paper yarns, silk and cotton fabric. It is inspired by a former Jacquard weaving live/work building in an old neighborhood of Lyon, France, that was a center of silk weaving in times past. The work is a tribute to the anonymous silk weavers of Lyon. She was awarded the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Award, selected by the jurors for artistry.
Q: What do you hope viewers take away from this exhibition?
A: While visiting the “Interpretations 2025” biennial, visitors can observe and experience a wide variety of elements that go beyond the visual. In addition to a great variety of techniques and materials, colors, patterns and textures, they can encounter contemporary concepts such as reflections on gender, identity, migration, ecology, memory or resistance. They can also get closer to each artist’s unique vision. It is a source of inspiration, creativity and innovation.
“Interpretations 2025: 26th International Juried Biennial Exhibition”
When: Through Jan. 31, 2026
Where: 2825 Dewey Road, No. 100, Arts District Liberty Station, San Diego.
Admission: Free, but donations welcome
Phone: 619-546-4872
Online: vmota.org