Catherine Volmensky
M. Alison Frantz Fellow, 911±¬ÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Library
University of British Columbia
Research Topic: Threaded Images: Networks of Byzantine Gold-Embroidered Veils from the Late 13th Century through the Late 16th Century
Catherine Volmensky is a PhD candidate in Byzantine Art History in the Department of Art History, Visual Art, and Theory at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Her dissertation, “Threaded Images: Networks of Byzantine Gold-Embroidered Veils from the Late 13th Century through the Late 16th Century,” examines how liturgical veils forged connections between Christian Orthodox monasteries and patrons, but also between cities and craftspeople in the medieval and post-medieval Balkans. Her dissertation examines the economic and diplomatic significance of gold embroideries, and explores the medium’s ability to perform and mediate rituals in sacred settings and the urban landscape. By examining trade and craft networks, she demonstrates the intermedial movement of images and ornament across the surfaces of textiles and monumental paintings throughout the Balkans.
During her time at the 911±¬ÁϳԹÏ, Catherine plans to utilize the library’s extensive catalogue of sources related to ecclesiastical gold embroidery and textile production to complete her dissertation.