VISDA Cedar Hill Exhibition

I've just got back from spending the day sitting with the Vancouver  Island Surface Design Association exhibition at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre. As well as talking to many of the visitors, I got lots of stitching done on my red panel. 

We had a most successful opening last week with estimates of 80 to 100 people turning up for the event.

In fact it was so crowded at times it was hard to see the work. Today a number of people came back to the gallery a 2nd time, hoping to get a better look at the work.

It was a great time to catch up with friends as well as look at the new work by 18 members of VISDA

Eco-printing a la India Flint

Recently i spent a day eco-printing, experimenting with plants from outside

After steaming i left the bundles tied up and resisted even peaking, leaving them to peacefully cure

A lichen covered snag blew down from our magnificent Dogwood tree.
I have temporarily claimed it, wrapping it in various pieces cloth. 

It is outside my studio window...

... where it serves to remind me of the pace of natural staining processes.

More Negative Space Experiments

Garland
More samples of students experimental sampling.

Kati

Sonia

Dana

Negative Space

James
Victoria College of Art Textile Arts students' experiments with negative space.

Esther

Sarah

Sue Mei
There are lots of examples here of well considered use of design elements.

Fibres@The Hill

Yesterday, we (Vancouver Island Surface Design Association) hung an exhibition in the new Art Gallery at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre, Victoria
This is what we started with

What the space will look like for the next month
Here is a quick look around the walls...

...filled with over 60 works (minus the ladder)

A most interesting collection of contemporary textile art

The exhibition opened today, November 2nd and closes November 29th
The Gallery is open the same hours as the community centre with an artist in attendance daily from 10:30 am until 5:00 pm
The opening is Friday, November 4th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, with many of the 18 artists planning on attending

Do come by and let us know what you think
Ask the artist in attendance lots of questions - we like to talk about our work

Handwork 7, Handwork 8

More rescued wool embroideries
I used the 2 in the top left...

...to make 'Handwork 7'

To make 'Handwork 8', I used the one in the top left...

...and part of the one in the top right.

These 3 works will be hung in a gallery tomorrow.
The Vancouver Island Surface Design Association has a month long exhibition in the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre Art Gallery, a new space Victoria artists have started to use.

New Work

For many months I have been collecting woolen embroideries from second-hand/thrift stores. Friend Carol has also been collecting for me - she has superior gathering skills.

They are being used for a series called 'Handwork' and are about acknowledging the creative work done in the private home, by woman - work with no value.

I take the embroideries out of their frames, always hoping there will be some provenance but there usually isn't. These are anonymous creative works.

They are washed.

I picked the 2 on the right....

...to make this work. It is about how the human eye is designed to look for a figure on a background.
 The male eye looks for a focal point in the figure while the female eye searches for all-over patterns.
This work is for the female viewer.

Handwashing Day

Hand washing some of my thrift store finds and successful bids at auction houses.
2 fine wool shawls, one with beautiful, woven, floral border

Wool blanket - well used but laundered carefully over its life time so no sign of fulling.

Piece of old silk velvet in blue and gold - a little fragile but washed up well.

A friend found this treasure for me at a garage sale - a heavily metal embroidered, Indian made evening purse.

It was rejuvenated after a light vacuum and spot clean.
It is now in my closet because I'm going to enjoy using if for awhile.

Church Sale Finds

Went to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church sale
Picked up some great stuff

Box of Floss - 50 cents

Cones of wool & cotton - $1/cone

Box of interfacing - $2.50
Stash Renewal