President Obama and his sister, Maya, have inherited their mother’s collection of Batik fabrics that she bought while living in Indonesia. Ann Dunham was an anthropologist. She died of ovarian cancer in 1995, at the age of 52.
Meanwhile, clothes were made for her using the beautiful Batik fabrics she collected. She had lived in Indonesia, marrying there in 1967. A current news story broke last week and has been featured in an audio version on National Public Radio, as well:
An exhibit of her Batik textiles and dresses can be seen until August 23, 2009 at the Textile Museum at 2320 S. St., NW, Washington, D.C., (202) 667-0441
Batik fabrics are made via a wax resist method of dyeing. The areas that are to remain free of dye have hot wax applied to them. After dyeing the fabric, the wax is melted by application of heat. Even a hand-held, hair dryer could work! Here are a couple of African batiks from my own collection, as well as a small quilt in which I used a modern batik fabric as one of the borders.
Miniature quilt designed by Patricia Cummings
I hope that you enjoy these additional examples, and if you are in the Washington, D.C. area, perhaps you’ll have a chance to stop by the Textile Museum, a fun place to visit at any time!
Stay cool!
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications – our main website
Tags: Ann Dunham, Batiks, exhibit, Indonesia, President Obama
