The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) in Philadelphia is gearing up to host a retrospective exhibition this fall, showcasing the vibrant and eclectic art practice of Swedish artist and designer Moki Cherry. Titled “The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry,” the exhibition will offer a comprehensive look at Cherry’s work, including fiber works, costumes, ceramics, sound and video recordings, and other ephemera.
Moki Cherry, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 66, had a prolific career that spanned from the 1960s to her final days. She was known for her collaborations with her husband, the legendary jazz trumpeter Don Cherry, and her art practice extended beyond traditional boundaries, encompassing music, performance, dance, and more.
The exhibition will not only showcase Cherry’s artwork but also delve into her personal life, highlighting her home environment filled with vibrant colors, patterned rugs, and scenes of domestic bliss with her children, Neneh and Eagle Eye, both of whom followed in their parents’ footsteps as musicians.
Mark Christman, one of the curators of the exhibition, emphasized the relevance of Moki Cherry’s work in today’s context, describing it as a fusion of art, music, and daily life that offers a feminine and intuitive approach to creativity and relationships.
In addition to the retrospective on Moki Cherry, the exhibition will feature the work of artist-in-residence Lisa Alvarado, whose project “Talismans for a Theater of Resilience” explores themes of memory and heritage through fabric assemblage, screenprinting, and dyeing techniques. Alvarado’s work will complement Cherry’s legacy, offering a contemporary perspective on the intersection of art and life.
With a focus on creating a sanctuary for creativity and renewal, the FWM’s fall program promises to bring Moki Cherry’s vision of “home as stage, stage as home” to life in a vivid and immersive experience that offers a much-needed escape from the challenges of the present moment.
