‘Pull the wool over your eyes’
Originally published on the JOLT News on September 10th, 2025
Throughout time, various narratives describing the history of humankind have developed and invited new discoveries that shape our comprehension.
As different topics are introduced, fundamental aspects lose their popularity within the narrative, and vanish from the conversation. Janice Arnold, artist and founder of the organization, The Felt Road, taught me about the significance of one of these overlooked and misunderstood commodities — wool.
Arnold’s passion revolves around the study of the chronology of wool and woolen felt, as well as creating art pieces that honor ancient and indigenous practices of woolen felt making. One conversation with Arnold and another layer of historical understanding has revealed itself to me, and my life feels richer because of it.
“Education is empowerment, and when people understand the history and origins of Felt, they appreciate it more.”
Knowledge is a gift, one that Arnold so generously gave me and is ready to share with you. In this case, the phrase “pull the wool over your eyes” takes on a positive connotation.
A brief account of the history of wool
Did you know that woolen felt was the earliest fabric known to humanity? Central Asia is the birthplace of felt, and nomads used it for numerous purposes, such as covering their portable dwellings called yurts, crafting functional and ceremonial pieces, and burying their deceased. In this way, felt was (and still is) a sacred material.
At the time I spoke with Arnold, she showed me her working timeline of the history of felt that included artifacts to highlight marks on the timeline. Arnold showed me replicas of ancient Chinese felt shoes, and the way felt has been used to create hats for thousands of years around the world. Eventually, wool became the symbol of wealth.
“The Renaissance was funded by wool,” Arnold commented. “The Medici family built their wealth on the wool trade, thanks to Merino sheep, a closely guarded breed with priceless fiber.”
At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, it really took off. Asphalt embedded felt saved British Navy ships from the Teredo Navalis worm, which bore holes into the ship and caused the ship to sink.
Woolen felt’s natural flame resistance made it crucial to so many aspects of daily life for generations. There is more to this complex and entirely fascinating history, and I encourage you to reach out to Janice Arnold and her team atThe Felt Roadfor more information.
Arnold’s current pieces
Commissioned by the community in Tieton (near Yakima), Arnold guided a community event to create a huge (32 foot by 15 foot) woolen felt piece using the traditional nomadic process in the traditional way established thousands of years ago.
“Everybody worked together — they layered the wool, netted it, wetted it, danced upon it for hours, and many other steps over the last several years to get it to this stage," Arnold said.
The best way to imagine this piece is like an extremely large and long woolen quilt. Similar to a quilt, stories of the past are etched in. In this case, topographic maps of the inlets of the Salish Seas were solar printed on silk, and then were site-specific stitched onto the wool.
Arnold has traveled around the world to the appropriate tribes and countries to gain approvals and blessings to do this work using these ancient international practices.
“I honor their work with every single piece I make, and I make a point to teach the process and honor their wisdom as the originators of that fabric and art form," Arnold said.
Arnold’s goal is to interact with all communities, create art together, and to learn together in a way that respects everyone’s heritage.
This piece will be available to view at the variety of events The Felt Road will hold in our area. Visit The Felt Road website to learn more. I invite you to watch this video that discusses this specific piece and others she has created.
'Homage to the Forests'
The tactile textile installation “Homage to the Forests” is at the House of Welcome Longhouse on the Evergreen State College campus. The Homage to the Forests pieces are woolen-felt replicas of tree bark or “tree skins” as Arnold calls them.
Approaching these pieces, I thought “Wow that's incredible that the House of Welcome was able to preserve trees in this way.” It was not until I touched the pieces that I realized they were made of felt. Their magnificence will leave you speechless.
On view Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Dec. 15. This installation is partially funded by the City of Olympia’s “Inspire Olympia” grant.
https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/intheaudience-pull-the-wool-over-your-eyes,26383