Insects at the Textile Museum

[vaneramos]

Leaf insects





Brenna studies a collection





A wall covering


One of djjo's Christmas gifts to me and the girls was a family pass to the Textile Museum of Canada to see A Terrible Beauty, an installation of insects in design, showing now until May 14, 2006. This afternoon Danny, Marian, Brenna and I spent two amazing hours perusing this remarkable museum, particularly the bugs. I strongly recommend the exhibit to anyone with an interest in natural history or design. Artist, curator and collector Jennifer Angus, who lives in Wisconsin, has created similar shows around the world. This one took inspiration from textiles. The display, occupying four rooms and incorporating 15,000 insects, elaborates on themes found in Victorian collages and wall coverings. Grasshoppers, cicadas, leaf insects and jewel beetles are prevalent. It might sound gruesome but even Brenna, initially dubious about the excursion, was fascinated once we arrived. Angus's artist biography declares the specimens were only obtained from environmentally reputable dealers. Each room presents a different visual experience, notably a two-storey-high quote from Lewis Carroll made of some 2,600 insects. Also intriguing were six small table displays of antique collection boxes containing insects embossed with words from 19th Century literature. This experience is simply too bizarre and lovely to miss.