Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture

06/03/2026

This month, Field to Frock begins! All of the events, from behind-the-scenes tours to hands-on crafting, can be found on the Midwest Linen Revival website. Event information and links to register are available now.

The Center will host tours on June 25th and 26th, provided by Dr. Sophie Pitman. Explore historic linen from the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection, and learn about flax textiles past and present.

Attending is free but registration is required to save your spot. Follow the link below to learn more, and reserve your spot for any of these fantastic opportunities!
https://www.midwestlinenrevival.org/field-to-frock

06/03/2026

05/18/2026

Field to Frock returns June 2026! From the 23rd through the 28th, join in a celebration of all things fiber, flax, and farming across the Madison Area.

As a part of the events, the Center for Design and Material Culture will be offering historic linen tours in the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection on June 25th and June 26th.

Follow the link below for more information, and to register for a tour now at the Midwest Linen Revival website!
https://cdmc.wisc.edu/event/field-to-frock-2026/

05/12/2026

How do different cultures play around the world? In Radio Chipstone’s new podcast episode titled “Small Matter: Found Objects And Play," Ph.D student Abubakar Muhammad joins Gianofer Fields to discuss his exhibit titled Small Matter. Currently showing in Nancy Nicholas Hall through November 1st, Muhammad’s exhibit features makeshift soccer balls crafted by children in Kano, Nigeria, using a wide variety of recycled materials. If you’re interested in what makes this “small” exhibit so impactful, listen to the episode on WORT 89.9 FM's website through the link in our bio.

05/11/2026

We are seeking applications for a two-year (2026-28) postdoctoral fellowship in material culture and design history, in collaboration with the Design Studies Department in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Fellow will conduct original research related to one of the center’s three pillars of Design, Material Culture, and the Study of Textiles and will teach three courses over two years in the Design Studies department.

For more information about this full time fellowship, scan the QR code or visit cdmc.wisc.edu/postdoc-fellow/

05/08/2026

Good news — Parallel Lines: Quilts and the American Landscape has been extended through May 15 at the Lynn Macklenburg Textile Gallery. Featuring 19th and 20th-century American quilts from the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection, the exhibition explores the relationships among quilt patterns and the ways we shape and understand the landscapes around us. Don't miss your final opportunity to experience the exhibition! Photos by Jim Escalante.

04/30/2026

Quilts are made to meet human needs and meant to be interacted with, but what if a quilt was designed to interact with you in return? Professor of Design Studies Dr. Mengni Zhang investigates this possibility through the intersection of interior architecture, interactive environments, and quilts. Explore the inspirations and innovative design behind Dr. Zhang's work in the video titled for his piece, "Rustling Veil."

Follow the link below to watch now!
https://mediaspace.wisc.edu/media/Rustling%20Veil/1_efk3r8zd

04/29/2026

Were you unable to attend our recent DS-CDMC Lectures, Anila Quayyum Agha’s An Embellished Life or Nicole Craanen’s Elevating Well Being Through Biophilic Design? Recordings of both presentations are available online through the Kaltura Mediaspace. Agha’s lecture explores how stitchwork and embellishment establish commonalities between different cultures, while Craanen’s lecture explains how art, design, and natural elements can shape meaningful spaces. These inspiring lectures are available through the links in our bio.

04/29/2026

How is data embedded in material culture objects? Join Dr. Sarah Anne Carter, Executive Director of the Nancy M. Bruce Center, on today’s panel The Materiality of Data.

04/22/2026

Where do we go when we make?

Experience a space between what is seen and imagined, where materials transform, memories resurface, and identities take shape. This exhibition brings together the work of 15 graduating artists and designers, exploring storytelling through apparel, weaving, papermaking, and more. Curated by Textiles and Fashion Design students, Where do we go when we make? invites us to reflect on the quiet, in-between moments of creation.

The exhibition is on view at the Ruth Davis Design Gallery from April 22-May 10, 2026. Join us for an opening reception on Thursday, April 23 from 5pm-7pm.