Textile Arts Council
In support of the Textile Department
of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
We are a support group of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco with the goal of advancing the appreciation of the Museums' textile and costume collections.
A Bay Area forum that provides lecturers, workshops, events and travel opportunities for artists, designers, aficionados and collectors of ethnic textiles, rugs, tapestries, Western costume, and contemporary fiber art.
All Power To The People
(after Man with Afro, San Francisco, California by Leon A. Borensztein, 1984)
2023 Bisa Butler
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
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Latest News
Exciting News From Our Upcoming Bazaar
Throughout the Fall we will be highlighting
the people and groups who will be a part of this year's Textile Bazaar.
Here are Jolom Mayaetik, Jasmin Zorlu, Object:Found, and The Didi Jewelry Project.
Click here to find details about the event.
Textile Arts Council Annual Bazaar
Date and time
Saturday, November 8th · 10am - 4pm PST
Location
St. Mary's Cathedral Event Center
1111 Gough Street San Francisco
Jolom Mayaetik is a Maya weavers’ cooperative that formed in 1996 in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. The cooperative's goal was to achieve fair trade pricing and to market their work more effectively than the state cooperative had been doing. In addition to continuing the long tradition passed from mother to daughter over countless generations, marked by the huipil distinctive to their own community, they have adapted their ancient weaving technique and designs to create contemporary products for sale.
"As I’ve observed during 25 years as a volunteer with the cooperative, the rural indigenous communities in Chiapas, Mexico, are being pulled into a cash economy, and the weavers’ earnings from the beautiful textiles they weave are essential to their families’ well being."
Charlene Woodcock of Jolom Mayaetik
Jolom Mayaetik
Jasmin Zorlu
Jasmin Zorlu specializes in creating eco-friendly sculptural clothing and headwear with a minimal aesthetic. The wearable art inspired by the Art Deco era is 95% completely done by hand and is one-of-a-kind.
Meet Jasmin and learn how to make your own Felted Flapper Cloche
Courtesy of Mary Connors
Object:Found
Object:Found " offers hand-soldered glass pendants and Christmas tree ornaments that feature original images salvaged from damaged books, vintage dictionaries, out-of-date calendars, old greeting cards, and other printed materials diverted from the waste stream. The images are curated with an eye towards nostalgia and each one-of-a-kind piece is designed to evoke customers' memories and fond associations." Amy Balsbaugh
Learn more about Amy's work at @object.found
The Didi Jewelry Project
supports women in India who are impacted by HIV and poverty. Their jewelry is designed in California by Laurel Gunnarson, who creates the prototype of each unique piece. The finished product uses traditional techniques such as macrame and bead weaving, together with contemporary design, to create a glittering collection of handmade jewelry. In collaboration with Aashiana, an NGO in New Delhi, the project provides these Indian artisans with and income, healthcare, and school fees for their entire families.
Didi is the Hindi word for Sister. To see more, visit their website and meet the sisters.
The Didi Jewelry Project
Calendar
Lectures, Tours and Workshops
Fall Lecture Series 2025
Lecture
Saturday, September 20th, 2025
Regional Textile Systems;
Evolving within our Fibershed
The Foundations of our Fibershed
with Rebecca Burgess
Date and time
Saturday, September 20 · 10 - 11:30am PDT
Location
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive San Francisco
©️Photograph by Paige Green
The presentation will take place in the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Attendance in person is free.
Eventbrite tickets are for those who cannot attend in person and would like to view the live Zoom broadcast.
A recording will be available for 14 days following the talk.
Textile Arts Council Members: You do NOT need to purchase a ticket, your link will be emailed to you.
A Fibershed is a geographically defined area where natural fibers are grown, processed, and made into textiles, with the goal of creating a closed-loop system that supports local economies and ecological health. It's a regional approach to the textile industry, emphasizing local sourcing, processing, and the eventual return of textiles to the soil through composting.
The materials required for a flourishing Fibershed are present throughout California’s coastal hills, the San Joaquin Valley and the foothill regions. This presentation will explore the foundations of our Fibershed, while providing updates as to what is emerging between the urban and the rural, the communities where the infrastructure of material culture is being rebuilt, and where culture building hotspots are emerging through skill sharing and ecological restoration.
Book by Rebecca Burgess, & Green, P. (2011). Harvesting color : how to find plants and make natural dyes. Artisan.
Rebecca Burgess is the Founder and Executive Director of Fibershed, and the Board Chair for Carbon Cycle Institute. She has over a decade of experience writing and implementing a hands-on curriculum that focuses on the intersection of restoration ecology and fiber systems. She has taught at Westminster College and Harvard University, and has created workshops for a range of NGOs and corporations.
Rebecca is the author of the best-selling book Harvesting Color, a bioregional look into the natural dye traditions of North America, and Fibershed: Growing a Movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a New Textile Economy released in 2019.
The Fibershed Learning Center is a multi-use space, demonstrating the connections to natural fiber and dye systems. It is a part of the Black Mountain Ranch community of agrarians and artists located in Point Reyes Station, California.
Tours and Workshops
Tour
Saturday, September 6th
Curator's Tour of Contemporary Hand Woven Tapestry Exhibit
"What's Going On?" is an exciting show of thirty-two contemporary hand woven tapestries responding to the issues of our times.
Date and time
Saturday, September 6th · 10 - 11:30am PDT
Location
Mills Building
220 Bush Street San Francisco
Cost
TAC members $25, non-members $30.
Deborah Corsini Golden Boy / Black Widow, (detail) 2022 photo credit: Don Felton
About this event
"What's Going On?" is an exciting show of thirty-two contemporary hand woven tapestries responding to the issues of our times. Sponsored by Tapestry Weavers West, this juried exhibit showcases how artists have embraced a diverse array of materials and methods, fiber and fiber processes. Textiles’ strong materiality – texture, color, physicality – and their associative power – personal, cultural and political - make them a potent resource for tapestry artists.
The show, located in the lobby of the Mills Building, 220 Montgomery St, San Francisco, will be on view weekdays until September 26, 2025.
Join us for a private tour on Saturday, September 6 when the Mills building is closed to the public. The tour is lead by jurors and exhibiting artists, Alex Friedman and Deborah Corsini. Both are long time tapestry weavers and both exhibit internationally. TAC is honored to have Alex on its advisory board. Deborah is a former TAC board member.
Alexandra Friedman Let's Talk, 2025
photo credit: Craig Kolb
Tour
Wednesday, October 1st
Tour of Berkeley Art Museum's African American Quilts Exhibit
Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California
Date and time
Wednesday, October 1st · 11 - 12:00pm PDT
Location
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
2155 Center Street Berkeley
Cost
TAC members $25, non-members $30.
Photo courtesy of BAMPFA
About this event
Join TAC for a private tour of the stunning exhibit, led by curator Dr. Elaine Yau.
Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California traces the flow and flourishing of quilts during the Second Great Migration. This exhibition features over 100 quilts from BAMPFA's collection, created by more than ninety artists—predominantly Black women with ties to the San Francisco Bay Area. It explores the medium's unique capacity for connecting kin across time and distance, holding memory and ancestral knowledge, and opening up space for beauty and artistic ingenuity.
Dr. Elaine Yau is an Associate Curator and Academic Liaison at the Berkeley Art Museum Pacific Film Archive. Her work with the African American quilt collection emphasizes collaboration with descendant's families, contemporary quiltmakers, artists, curators, and scholars to ensure equitable paths for the quilts' care and interpretation.
Photo courtesy of BAMPFA
Photo courtesy of BAMPFA
Tour
Saturday, October 25th
Sunday, October 26th
Discover Hidden Treasures at the Antique Rug and Textile Show (ARTS)
An Exclusive TAC Tour
Date and time
4 time slots -
See details and registration for more information
Saturday, October 25th · 11:00 - 12:00pm
Saturday, October 25th · 2:00 - 3:00pm
Sunday, October 26th · 11:00 - 12:00pm
Sunday, October 26th · 2:00 - 3:00pm
Location
Motel Capri
2015 Greenwich Street San Francisco
Cost
TAC members $30, non-members $35
Photo courtesy of Renee Cocke
About This Event
Join us for an exclusive TAC tour experience at the renowned Antique Rug and Textile Show (ARTS)! Dive deep into the captivating world of antique rugs and ethnographic textiles, and explore the hidden treasures waiting in each unique room.
Over the last decade, ARTS has solidified its reputation as the premier venue, both nationally and internationally, for authentic and unique antique rugs and ethnographic textiles. It has become an eagerly anticipated annual highlight for collectors and dealers alike.
A Rich History: The ARTS show's roots trace back to the 1990s, when San Francisco's Motel Capri became the unofficial hub for rug dealers exhibiting at a major tribal-art fair. Inspired by this vibrant energy, one exhibitor envisioned a more relaxed, intimate, room-to-room showcase right at the motel. The first edition launched in 2011, initially spanning two weekends, before evolving into its now ideal, concise Friday-through-Sunday format. Fifteen years on, the show continues to attract esteemed dealers from across the globe, offering a unique opportunity to share expertise and allow visitors to experience exquisite rugs and textiles up close. It also warmly welcomes select tribal-art specialists, further broadening its ethnographic appeal.
This TAC tour offers a special opportunity to explore this rich history and the exceptional offerings of the ARTS show. Don't miss your chance to delve into a world of unparalleled artistry and cultural heritage!
Meet Your Tour Host: Renée Cocke
Leading your TAC tour through the vibrant ARTS show will be Renée Cocke, a seasoned veteran and passionate advocate for antique rugs and ethnographic textiles. With over two decades of experience in the rug industry, her profound knowledge was cultivated during her long tenure at the esteemed KRIMSA fine rugs and décor on Union Street, and further refined by her business partner, renowned rug expert Paul Ramsey.
As a dedicated TAC Board Member, Renée's commitment to the textile community is evident. Her intimate, yearly involvement with the ARTS Show provides unparalleled insight into its history, evolution, and unique treasures. With an extensive network, Renée knows every dealer, offering you exclusive access and enriching behind-the-scenes perspectives. Prepare to explore ARTS with an unparalleled guide who can illuminate the stories and significance behind each magnificent textile.
Photo courtesy of Renee Cocke
Photo courtesy of Renee Cocke
TAC Bazaar 2025
Event
Saturday, November 8th
Textile Bazaar
TAC is hosting its annual bazaar!
Date and time
Saturday, November 8th · 10am - 4pm PST
Location
St. Mary's Cathedral Event Center
1111 Gough Street San Francisco
Cost
Free to the public
Courtesy of Mary Connors
About this event
2025 Textile Bazaar: Save the Date!
On November 8th we will once again be at St. Mary's Cathedral event center, hosting more than 30 vendors, including many old favorites and some exciting new additions.
This truly unique event offers an extensive assortment of textiles, jewelry and home accessories from around the world and from the creative community in the Bay Area.
Admission is free, the parking is plentiful and #38 Muni stops at the corner
For information about becoming a vendor, please contact Shirley Juster at shirleyjuster.tac@gmail.com
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