moses was a Hawaiian artist known for the intricate hats he'd sculpt out of everyday brown paper bags. In a new exhibition at the Mingei, "Fold, Twist, Tie," a collection of his 1980s paper bag hats will be on view alongside his photography of beachgoers wearing his sculptures. The exhibition is intended to bring the process to life, and I especially love the juxtaposition of a hat as an art object against a photo of it being worn. There's no doubt the wearer marveled or respected the work, but it feels deliciously far removed from a modern "don't touch the artwork" sensibility. One of my favorites is the towering "Sun Bishop" hat, constructed of repeated tube-like lengths of rolled paper bag strips, sitting high on the head like a bishop (fun fact: a bishop's hat is called a "mitre"). It's not the most elaborate of the designs in the exhibition, but that's part of its charm. —Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS (from "5 works of art to see in San Diego in April") From the museum: This exhibition at Mingei International Museum features whimsical and sculptural paper hats made by self-taught artist, moses. Self-taught artist moses is best known for his whimsical and sculptural paper bag hats. Each piece mimics materials ranging from leather to bamboo and challenges conventional ideas with extraordinary and elaborate design. FOLD, TWIST, TIE explores the process behind the making of his hats, pairing them with recently restored photos of his creations, often worn by enthusiastic participants. The hats were given grand titles by the artist, such as Sun Queen and Thelonious. The utilitarian paper bag, usually used to hold groceries or lunch, is transformed in this exhibition. Viewers will delight in the creative designs of moses and are sure to leave the show rethinking this simple material. Related links: The Mingei on Instagram The Mingei on Facebook
