The female figures in this trio of paintings evoke the Fates or Norns, the goddesses who spin to determine destiny in Greek and Norse tradition. Yet these figures might also be human women, engaged in the everyday work of textile production—labor that, with its divine associations, offered opportunity to harness supernatural power.

Fraleigh creates an environment for these figures that brims with magical possibilities, employing varied imagery from the Museum’s textile collection. She selected textile motifs based on their traditional meanings and invocations: for instance, flowers, woven and embroidered worldwide to invite fertility and abundance; and stars, a symbol of celestial harmony and the passage of time. Other textile designs used here include labyrinthine patterns intended to confuse evil spirits, and geometric motifs used to offer strength and protection.

Building on the layers of meaning embedded in her work, Fraleigh also incorporated moonwater, ground crystals, and paint made from gemstones that hold supernatural significance in various traditions.