Maria Britton breathes new life into old bedsheets, transforming them into captivating works that blur the lines between painting and sculpture. Her creations delve into themes such as memory, dreams, accumulation, labor, gender, and value. The exhibition ‘Second Sleep’ showcases these textile-based pieces, named ‘Draperies,’ where patterned bedsheets are skillfully layered and pleated to form lively abstract paintings. Displayed like curtains, these ‘Draperies’ invite reflection, either by veiling the past or sparking the imagination of what lies ahead.
The phrase ‘second sleep’ refers to a historical pattern of divided sleep that was prevalent before the Industrial Revolution. During this nocturnal interval, some people engaged in creativity and contemplation, while others attended to domestic tasks. With the advent of electricity and the demands of capitalism, contemporary societies have drifted away from this natural sleep cycle.
By merging domestic textiles with exuberant abstraction, Britton encourages a celebration of innovation and independent thought. ‘Second Sleep’ underscores more than a decade of artistic evolution, emphasizing novel techniques and designs over conventional approaches.
This exhibition receives partial funding from the South Carolina Arts Commission, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, and benefits from a generous contribution from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.
‘Second Sleep’ is featured at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston until July 25, 2026. Further information is available at halsey.charleston.edu.
