
MOLA: Kuna Needle Arts from the San Blas Islands, Panama
In 2008, a collection of more than 350 Molas was donated to the IMA by Irene Hollister, whose late husband, Paul Hollister - a writer, lecturer, painter and photographer, collected them in the 1960s and 1970s. The molas represent the textile arts of the Kuna Indians, the indigenous people of Panama and Colombia. The Kuna are famous for these bright, colorful, and meticulously appliquéd textiles, which adorn the fronts and backs of Kuna women's blouses. A selection of about 50 of the finest molas from the Museum's collection are displayed in the exhibition. They range in date from the early 1900s to the 1970s and represent a myriad of motifs and designs.