Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Kuna Mola Tradition: The Jane Gruver Collection, Jane Gruver
Kuna Mola Tradition: The Jane Gruver Collection, Jane Gruver
Molas Collection
Jane Gruver, the Mola Lady, collected these molas between 1964 and the present to document the tradition and its evolution. Jane had a keen eye for selecting works that were well executed and artistic, but also documented the world of the Kuna and their traditions. These molas were set aside by Jane and were destined as a museum collection. They are now among the holdings of the Hudson Museum and join other molas donated by Jane.
Molas are reverse applique panels made in pairs for the front and back of women’s blouses. Several layers of cloth are stacked together and …
Molas: The Jane Gruver Collection, Jane Gruver
Molas: The Jane Gruver Collection, Jane Gruver
Molas Collection
For over 40 years, Jane Gruver, "the Mola Lady," and her husband Dr. Daniel Gruver lived and worked among the Kuna of the San Blas Islands of Panama. Jane acquired a deep appreciation and understanding of Kuna mola making and collected the molas presented here to document this tradition. Beginning in 1994, she began to donate molas to the Hudson Museum as a way of recording this artform and the lifeways of the Kuna for the future.
Molas are reverse appliqued fabric panels made to adorn women's blouses and were probably derived from body painting of the pre-Conquest era. The …