Throw "Away" Rugs - Abstract or Intentional?

Rugs have been a tool of trade, savings, and artisan folklore for many many generations in Morocco. They are useful pieces of heritage arts.

The rugs are ubiquitous in 'souks' - markets of Marrakesh. There are many different styles, weaves, techniques for rugs, each with a sales pitch equally, unique to match each characteristic.

We are lucky to have spent a nice period of time in Marrakesh, feeling the pace of life here, walking the Derbs (streets)... learning about rugs. We have been staying with our friend who has worked and lived a life in Moroccan rugs for almost 50 years. Being this close to a lifestyle of Moroccan trading guilds makes it more real. It also means we get the inside scoop on rug sales and history.

The rug market is volatile. Prices tick up and down based on international trends. In person, prices can also rise and fall immensely depending on your understanding, interest, or good manners. The general rule is to pretend less interest in the rug you really like and bargain for it last.

Recently, there has been a flurry of articles about newly popular scrap rug art collectors in Marrakesh and Fes, Morocco. This has caused interest from our rug dealing friends and prices rise. Were we not in the heart of rug markets and Morocco would likely have had no idea that 'scrap' rugs were so en vogue: We have been surrounded by them. These rugs are everywhere covering the hand carved mosaic floors in the Riad where we are staying. They were an afterthought.

In realizing the recognized artistic quality of these rugs all around us, we venerate more the trader's eye and skillful selection of what makes the place so special. These rugs are a lovely art form. They are abstract, original, and very intentional in their artistry. Certainly, due to popularity, various rugs come in and out of production. News articles in far away lands cause looms to go to work in small villages here.

What could have caused such art movements in 'scrap' both 25 years ago and today? Are there intrinsic post-modern ingredients forming art? How are the ways which art movements are formally or informally being created connected to ways our popularity of world art trends are formed today?

It is wonderful to discover a 'sameness' in craft and art very far removed from where we think it belongs. Our friend here in Marrakesh is an expert in Moroccan art and textiles and has an incredible aesthetic eye. His shop, called Imports from Marrakech, in Manhattan's Chelsea Market specializes in Moroccan decorative art and design, with items available for event rental as well.