Museum hours

Tues Wed Fri 10 - 5
Thurs 10 - 8 
Sat 11 - 4 

Closed Sun, Mon & holidays

Free admission
Free parking

Office hours

Mon-Fri: 8 - 5 

Weary Family Foundation

Beach Museum of Art
Kansas State University
701 Beach Lane,
Manhattan, KS 66506
(14th & Anderson Ave.)

785-532-7718
beachart@ksu.edu

Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Nez Etsity, Optical (tumbling blocks), ca. 1950, handspun wool, 57 x 36 x 3/8 in., Kansas State…
Optical (tumbling blocks)
Nez Etsity, Optical (tumbling blocks), ca. 1950, handspun wool, 57 x 36 x 3/8 in., Kansas State…
Nez Etsity, Optical (tumbling blocks), ca. 1950, handspun wool, 57 x 36 x 3/8 in., Kansas State University, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, gift of Dennis L. and Carola A. Deschner, in memory of Allen M. Deschner, 2021.47, photo courtesy of Kansas State University Photo Services

Optical (tumbling blocks)

Artist (United States, Diné)
Dateca. 1950
MediumHandspun wool
DimensionsH x W x D: 57 x 36 x 3/8 in. (144.8 x 91.4 x 1 cm)
Object TypeTextiles
Credit LineKSU, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, gift of Dennis L. and Carola A. Deschner, in memory of Allen M. Deschner
Object number2021.47
On View
Not on view
Description

Black and white stacked block patterns such as this became popular with Navajo weavers during the early to mid-twentieth century. They may have been inspired by tumbling blocks quilt patterns that create an illusion of three-dimensional cubes. The grey yarn in this work is produced by carding and spinning black and white wool together, giving the yarn a dappled appearance.

Exhibitions
Bibliography
Susie Holiday, Sand painting weaving, ca. 1970, wool, 30 3/4 x 29 3/4 x 1/8 in., Kansas State U…
Susie Holiday
ca. 1970
2021.48
Undetermined
late 19th century
U1.2002
Sandswept
Janet Kuemmerlein
1978
2010.132
Spring Green
Janet Kuemmerlein
1975
2010.131
Navajo Yei Bi Chei Rug
Undetermined Diné
20th or 21st century
S9.2014
Pont Neuf: The Localization
Michael Kirby
1969, published 1970
2018.337.19
Colette Stuebe Bangert
May 1998
2018.82
China Marks, Monkey Boy and the Magic Beans, 2007, machine embroidery and appliqué on various f…
China Marks
2007
2007.50
Fold (After Dürer)
Phyllis McGibbon
2004
2007.75