Synesthesia #2

Using my trusty Color Tool I sort fabrics and threads for the 2nd work in the Synesthesia series.

The high value threads and fabrics I have in my stash are mostly low in intensity.

The mid value fabrics and threads are also mostly low in intensity.

The low value fabrics and threads are brighter. 

A quick black and white photograph to check the value of the patterned fabric, a lovely silk I really want to use.

Hmm, use high value low intensity...

...or mid to low value with higher intensity?

Steam Punk in New Zealand

'Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.'
If you are ever in New Zealand I would recommend planning to spend a day in Oamaru, on the east coast of the South Island. One of the many attractions in the city is all of the steampunk action, including this museum.

The museum works with many different arts organisations to hold events throughout the year.

 

Nearby is a steam punk playground...

...for everyone to enjoy.

Steampunk -' tomorrow as it used to be'
www.steampunkoamaru.co.nz

Synesthesia #1 Yellow

Synesthesia is a condition where one mixes up the senses eg seeing a sound as a shape or tasting a colour.
I don't have synesthesia but I do see each colour as having a certain energy or movement.
Starting with yellow - the chameleon with rays of energy - I sorted fabrics and threads.

Using my camera set on black/white I looked through the lens to check values.

Snippets of fabric and yarns built up the ground.

Thread painting by machine.
I had wanted to mount the work over a deep stretched canvas frame but ran into difficulty trying to fold the thick, stiff ground around the corners. I compromised and mounted the work in a thin black frame. I still think the stretched canvas would have been more dynamic for this series. Oh well.

Articulated Materials: Bridging Waters Exhibition by Articulation and Material Girls

The 1st showing in Canada of the Articulated Materials: Bridging Waters exhibition opens in a month, at the Cre8ery Gallery in Winnipeg.

The name of the exhibition explains how the it came about and also it's content.

Articulated Materials - Articulation, a Canadian group of fibre artists teamed up with a similar group called Material Girls, based in London, UK, to produce separate bodies of work to be shown together.

Bridging Waters: Each group chose an iconic waterway in their respective country to research. Articulation chose the Bay of Fundy and Material Girls chose the River Thames.

The resulting bodies of work are both contemporary, personal responses to the water ways and they tell stories of the long history of human interaction with the physical environment.

The 'bridging' part happens when Articulation's work was sent to London and toured galleries over 2012, then was sent back to Canada with the Material Girls' work for a 3-gallery tour across Canada over 2014.

The 'bridging' also happens when the viewer makes connections between the two bodies of work.

Donna Clement designed the poster using an image of Ingrid Lincoln's work.

Both are Articulation members.

More Art Deco In Ranfurly?

The funny thing was only the hotel was promoted in the tourist brochures as being in the Art Deco style. With the Spanish styled tiled roof and metal balconies I didn't see it.

The columns were particularly off putting though the font of the hotel name is 1930s.

But once inside the old part I saw this magnificent Art Deco style ceiling that really played with the 'step' form.

3 inter-locking arched mirrors is so AD.

The light fixtures and female figure ornaments where characteristically in the AD style also.

But as far as the outside of the building, I think this rabbit hutch has more Art Deco features.

Art Deco in Ranfurly, New Zealand

When travelling I like to look out for Art Deco architecture and decorative arts.
While in the small town Ranfurly, in the centre of New Zealand's South Island, I came across some fine examples of Art Deco architecture in the main street.

 

 

The stepped roof line was a popular shape in buildings and motifs of that era.

Plain doors made elegant with a few simple lines.

Art Deco or the later Moderne style?

The stepped roof line suggests Art Deco.

Art Insitu

A number of times, while on a recent holiday, I played around with materials I found.
Here is a nikau palm leaf on a beach.

The ridged inside breaks down to make long fibres...

...that can be pulled off.

I was thinking of a nest. 

Inspiration for Fundy Post Cards

The inspiration for Post Cards # 4 and #5 came from the Age of Sail Museum http://www.ageofsailmuseum.ca/, the sailor's costume for Post Card #4 and these woolen quilts for Post Card #5.

The quilts appear to be made from woolen clothing, particularly men's suits.

One of my favourite textile researchers is Anne Hollander. She has written extensively on the role the suit has played in society. Her books read like novels as she reveals the story. 

In the Post Card I incorporated 3 different horse hair textiles traditionally used to interface suit jackets. I collected these fabrics last November while exploring Toronto's textile district with other Articulation members.

Another important source of information for this series of work has been Allen Penney's book Houses of Nova Scotia.

Post Cards from Fundy #5

The 5th post card covers the mid to late 19th century when Gothic Revival architecture was all the rage, particularly in the UK. Here is the 'stamp' for the post card, a simple wooden version of the style as built around the Bay of Fundy.

Here is a magnificent example of the Gothic Revival style translated in wood, found in the sea port of Yarmouth.

Two identical houses were built (1877-78) side by side by a father for his son and daughter.

This one survives after the other unfortunately burnt down in 1992.

Loving attention was given to the gable and window detailing.