Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture

08/28/2026

First year students, join us for the campus museum crawl! On September 2nd, grab a passport, follow the map, and partake in activities at four participating museums. Visit all four for the chance to win raffle prizes!

When you stop by the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture, you'll have the opportunity join a drop-in i-cord knitting workshop with artist Carmen Juniper and learn more about the center's upcoming exhibitions.

Follow the link below for more information and register now!
https://cdmc.wisc.edu/event/campus-museum-crawl/

08/24/2026

08/19/2026

Congratulations to Associate Professor of Design Studies Sarah Anne Carter for her selection as a fellow by the Institute for Research in the Humanities, UW-Madison (IRH) this upcoming academic year. Carter is also the Chipstone Foundation Design and Material Culture Chair and executive director of the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture.

Her project “Boxes of Knowledge: Objects in Systems” asks: What kinds of lessons can be packed into boxes? With case studies stretching from the 1840s through the 1940s, she argues that carefully structured teaching boxes were used to naturalize abstract ideas as observable qualities of the material world: https://irh.wisc.edu/2026/06/01/full-list-of-incoming-and-returning-irh-fellows-2026-2027/

07/28/2026

Dakota Mace, photographer for the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection and the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture, is featured in ArtDaily for her photography on view in a New York City subway station through the MTA Arts & Design program.

A Diné interdisciplinary artist, Mace's work explores identity, memory, language and Indigenous knowledge through photography and textile-inspired practices. Her artwork brings powerful stories into one of the world's busiest public spaces, making contemporary Native art accessible to millions of transit riders.

Public art creates opportunities for everyday moments of connection, reflection and learning. Mace's installation celebrates Indigenous perspectives while demonstrating the power of art to transform shared spaces: https://artdaily.com/news/198010/MTA-Arts---Design-presents-five-photography-exhibitions-that-bring-fresh-perspectives-to-the-transit-system

07/23/2026

How did flax and linen help shape Wisconsin's history? Sophie Pitman, textile specialist and research director for the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture, recently joined WORT FM to explore the state's rich textile heritage.

Pitman shares how flax was once an important Wisconsin crop, connecting farming, craftsmanship and everyday life. She also discusses the growing interest in reviving regional linen production and what we can learn from historic textile traditions as we consider sustainable practices.

Understanding the history of flax and linen helps us appreciate the deep connections between agriculture, design and material culture, while inspiring new conversations about sustainability and local fiber systems: https://www.wortfm.org/the-long-history-of-flax-textiles-in-wisconsin/

07/14/2026

Her new exhibition, "Shímásání Bila’ (My Grandmother’s Hand)," opens Friday, July 10, at IAIA's Museum of Contemporary Native Art.

06/25/2026

Midwest Linen Revival founder Leslie Schroeder wants to revive flax-to-linen production in the region. The Field to Frock festival returns June 23–28.

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/