Vintage Chinese Glass Bead Curtains in a Gallery Setting

A brief overview of a longer video I'm working on now about the history of bead curtains in China. In this brief video, I show video clips I made on Bead Curtain Installation Day, August 13, 2023. My helper had to cancel, so I ended up installing each of these bead curtains myself, not knowing much about electric drills or how to use a level. Nevertheless, I kept going. Acutally, the bead curtains kept me going. I don't see them as Chinese cultural kitsch. I see them as precious artifacts of China's past, meaningful on several levels.
I installed thse bead curtains at Space 900 Gallery on Main Street in Evanston so that I could photograph them properly. My helper was supposed to bring most of the lighting. I had only basic lighitng with me...but I kept going. It took me quite a few hours to finish. By the end of the day I was tired but happy. These videos are not yet corrected for color and lighting - but they soon will be, in order to be included in the long-form video I'm making now on Chinese bead curtain history...which goes back many hundreds of years. In fact, references to bead curtains turn up in ancient Chinese texts.
These are all glass bead curtains made in China in the 20th century - although some might date to the late 19th c. They've really heavy to handle. They've lasted in good conditiong this long because the beads are strung on sturdy, thick threads suspended from a solid wood bar.
To learn more about Space 900 an artist-owned gallery in Evanston, IL, click here:
space900.org/h...
To learn more about Chinese bead curtains, including curtains made of seed pods, paper, and plastic beads, view my papers on the topic, which are fairly well illustrated:
Chinese Bead Curtains, Past and Present (2013)
www.academia.e...
Twentieth Century Chinese Glass Bead Curtains (2013:
www.academia.e...
To learn beautiful Chinese beadng techniques, watch these video tutorials right here on my channel:
How to Make a Chinese Floral Bead Ball in the Easiest Possible Way
studio.youtube...
How to Make a Chinese 90-Bead Sphere in the Easiest Possible Way
studio.youtube...
How to Stitch a Chinese Beaded Pillow in the Easist Possible Way
studio.youtube...
How to Stitch a Chinese 120-Bead Sphere in the Easiest Possible Way
studio.youtube...
How to Make a Chinese Beaded Apple in the Easiest Possible Way
studio.youtube...
Thanks for stopping by - please like, comment and subscribe!
-Valerie
#beads #chinesebeading #chinesebeads #glassbeads #beadcurtain #beaded #beadedcurtain

[@МирославаАнтонова-ъ3е]

Thank you Valerie for sharing this outstanding objects! The amount of work that took you to hang them on in order to show us(the viewrs) is marvelous. I wish I can come and see them in person as well thank you in person.💐
Sharing is caring. Beauty will safe the world.
🙏🕊💙💛

[@susanroberts]

I love these! Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing these. I’m in a wheelchair and have many autoimmune diseases so I don’t leave my home for years now. I miss going to museums and art galleries. I appreciate you sharing with me. Means more than mere words can express. 💝🥰🤗

[@valeriehector]

You are welcome, @user-hp! Yes, it did take a lot of work to hang them but the photos and videos that resulted were worth the effort. You are right - beauty can save the world! Thank you for stopping by!

[@Becca21741]

These are beautiful and beautifully displayed. Like the previous two commenters, I wish I could visit in person.

[@valeriehector]

Hi Becca, thank you for your kind words! Im glad you like these bead curtains enough to want to visit in person. I'll let you know if I'm ever able to curate a larger exhibition!