During my visit to an exhibit at the Canada gallery, entitled Magic Flying Carpets of the Berber Kingdom of Morocco, an unforgettable impression was made in a thought-provoking space. The carpets selected by curator and painter Katherine Bernhardt ranged in myriad sizes and were shown in an overlapping fashion—an imperfect arrangement of color, harmony, and balance. While sitting atop a silver cushion in the second exhibit room, my vision intermittently went in and out of focus scanning the intricacy of the designs. The painting shown on the wall, by Bernhardt herself, is linked to the carpets by its’ high density rhythmic pattern, that of which compliments the more monotone carpets and vast white wall space. What heightened the experience even more was the fact that Katherine and Elizabeth Bernhardt’s children were nonchalantly hanging out in the galleries—(pudgy baby boy attempting to stand up along with a charming blonde toddler eating snacks). It is rare nevertheless that unique Moroccan rugs and children mix this well with any exhibit at a cutting edge gallery in New York City.
The provenance of the collection manifests with the passion instilled by Bernhardt. She specifically covets and collects rugs that are woven by female Moroccans, and travels throughout Morocco annually to connect with indigenous weavers. The Bernhardts adamantly believe that the exchange encourages the tradition of weaving, and in turn, New Yorkers (including Roberta Smith!) are able to purchase and enjoy these beautiful textiles.
