“Sono troppo affascinata per aver paura.” Anni Albers
Quello che sappiamo di Nancy è che nacque in America all’inizio degli Anni Trenta, venne al mondo in una cittadina colta e metropolitana, sulle sponde di un fiume che sbocca nell’Oceano Atlantico settentrionale. Si laureò in Belle Arti, poi, in pittura, sotto la direzione di Joseph Albers, emigrato negli Stati Uniti con la moglie Anni dopo la chiusura forzata del Bauhaus. Nancy proseguì gli studi in Grecia, lì conobbe una gallerista che la portò in Italia, dove visse e insegnò arte. Nancy soprattutto disegnava stoffe. Amava viaggiare e amò soprattutto l’Oriente. Cercava stoffe. In ogni posto in cui sostò, imparò a esprimersi nella lingua della gente. Nancy vive a Parma in Italia, con gli oggetti e i libri raccolti lungo il viaggio di una vita. Questa è l’enciclopedia incompleta di una storia vera.
Pieces of Chinese pottery.
A collage by Nancy, Indonesian handmade ring, The Beatles special edition fountain pen by MONTBLANC, ex-voto.
Autograph of a circus artist, a postcard, cotton dress with pleated skirt and front embroidery by JIL SANDER, Hand-painted white canvas dress with floral pattern by MIU MIU.
Nancy’s photos of her dog, a miniature dog on a chain and a bow pin from her private collection, a drawing of Nancy’s dog, “Inch”, Nancy’s cooking recipe.
Hand embroiderers at work in India, Leaflet of a Tibetan medicine, Yellow chiffon dress by ACNE STUDIOS.
Zebu horn hair comb, glass travel toothbrush holder, toothbrush, silver and bamboo key chain, oval wooden handbag mirror and nail clippers in brown leather pouch by LORENZI MILANO.
Books from Nancy’s studio, Cards for learning Japanese, Woven leather lace-up shoes by GIORGIO ARMANI, Cotton shirt by STELLA McCARTNEY, Small ceramic animals, Monogram bracelet bag by LOUIS VUITTON, Nancy’s favourite necklace, Grained cow leather bag by LEMAIRE, From Nancy’s scarp book collection.
Chinese theatre mask, Noh theatre mask.
Knitting book from 1952, Japanese shoes book, Knitting book from 1949.
Nancy’s research on fabrics and patterns, Limoges porcelain vases and trays by HERMÈS, Tie and dye hanky from Indonesia.
Study of colour and patterns, Multicolour graphic cotton jacket by MARNI, Postcards and photographs from Indonesia, Patched denim sweater jacket by BLESS+CRISTASEYA.
Black polycarbonate suitcase by RIMOWA, Doodle paper from Nancy’s desk, Hotel receipt from Bhutan, Packing list.
Embroidered orange knitted stitch coat by PRADA, Indonesian necklace, From Nancy’s travel files, Her favourite perfume.
Fabric and thread colour charts.