It shouldn't work, he says. "Modern art is about extemporaneousness — the gesture of the artist conceived and executed quickly. Then you take that instant idea and give it to tapestry workers to reproduce in painstaking methods. It shouldn't work, but it does."

The bold, abstract designs done in tapestry are "a surprisingly appealing combination. The simple geometries and pure colors of much modern art transfer readily to the look, and the large scale and soft texture of tapestry give these designs a sense of drama, warmth and richness."

The exhibit features 17 tapestries, all made in France and borrowed from various collections by The Trust for Museum Exhibitions for the purpose of the show. BYU's MOA is one of only six museums in the country to get the show, and the only one in the West. "As a university museum, one of our goals is education," says museum spokesperson Chris Wilson, "and this is a great way to get people excited about modern art."

There's a lot of variety, adds Anderson. "The bold Calders; the details of the Chagall, where you can almost see the brushstrokes. Lurcat's tree-of-life thing is pretty thrilling. And I love the Matisses: 'Birds of the Air' and 'Fish of the Sea.' They flutter and float. You can sit and contemplate them for hours. With Matisse, you get such a different sense of motion. With the Calders, the textures change, every row is different."

Then there are the Braques. "The paintings for these were done in the last period of his life, just as his health was failing. You can't help but wonder if the brilliant golden doves are symbolic of his own spirit, about to fly off into the unknown."

Like so much of modern art, the tapestries "invite speculation," says Anderson. That's the joy of it, he says. "It's very satisfying, very energizing to think about."

If you go

What: "Tapestries: The Great Modernists"

Where: Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Provo

When: Through July 24

How much: Free

Phone: 801-422-8287

Web: www.byu.edu/moa

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E-mail: carma@desnews.com