The intention for these bimah coverings was to create evocative textiles with harmonious color combinations and nature-inspired imagery. Many traditional techniques were used to make the examples shown here, including indigo-dyed Shibori, wax resist, multi-hue dyeing, block printing, stitching, and a collage of antique lace and vintage materials. Materials used included silk, linen and cotton fabric and a wide range of embroidery thread.

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Ruth Simon McRae works in in a wide range of mediums, including textile arts, painting, printmaking, mixed media, and ceramics. She experiments with materiality and layering by merging complex color combinations,  pattern designs, and textures. McRae’s interest in textiles stems from a childhood surrounded by fabrics, from the fabrics in her father’s interior design studio to the fabulous clothes of the 1960s. She studied painting at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and the Philadelphia College of Art and textiles at Philadelphia University. Georgia Tech. These degrees provided her entrée into the field of industrial textile design, where she has enjoyed a long career in the floor covering industry.

Ruth Simon McRae is an artist living in Taylorsville in North Georgia, USA