CHARLOTTE, NC (USA)–Noted designer Wesley Mancini’s expansive collection of Kuba textiles from the Democratic Republic of Congo can be viewed at the Mint Museum in Charlotte until August 23.
Mancini still goes to his Charlotte studio every day with his constant companion Ada Biscuit.
He is still a well known Charlotte-based textile designer with over 40 years experience in designing upholstery fabric collections for major mills as well as his own branded collections. “Designing Dynamism” as the collection is called, focuses on the complex nature of Kuba textiles. This collection, believed to be the largest number of Kuba designs in one place, highlights both the ceremonial nature as well as the commercial use of Kuba textiles for the global market.
Kuba is woven by men and boys of raffia (palm leaf) fibers. The cloth is then covered by women with flat embroidery stitches or cut-pile, resembling velvet. Beyond prestige squares, the exhibition includes elaborately decorated women’s overskirts, beaded belts, and a carved pigment box as well as recent textiles that show the persistence and impact of the Kuba aesthetic.
Kuba raffia cloths were traditionally used in royal courts or funeral rites. The textiles on view are primarily from the 1980s. By the late 19th century to early 20th century, these textiles appeared in the European markets and were acquired by artists such as Henri Matisse, Suzanne Valadon, and Sonia Delaunay.
Wes Mancini, Busier in Retirement Than Ever: Mint Museum Shows His Large Kuba Collection
Wesley Mancini at his Charlotte studio with his loyal companion Ada Biscuit, alongside a glimpse of the intricate Kuba textiles featured in the Mint Museum exhibition.