Wall Pic's From Exhibition

Some of these pics aren't too technically hot but they do give an impression of how they looked in the gallery. Anyway they let you get a peep of what I have been up to, although some of the work has been shown previously.

But The Suitors Do Not Suit Her

Marauding Mannequin

Who's Ya Mama

Inquisition

Superstition

Gallery wall

Local press coverage

Exhibition Pics From Four Directions in Tapestry

Liz Arnold, Patricia Amour, Marilyn Rea-Menzies and I had a very good exhibition as far as visitor numbers go. It was also a very interesting exhibition from a technical point of view, as we have all developed such a distinctive individual style both in technique and subject matter over the years.  For me personally, having the opportunity to see the actual work rather than viewing it on-line was such a treat. The tapestries had a presence and clarity of perspective that can only been seen in its fullness and richness when viewed in real life. 

Tapestry weaving does not enjoy the same high number of practitioners among the weaving fraternity here as it does in other countries, and so I especially hope that this exhibition helps to lift the profile and mana of tapestry weaving here in NZ. Marilyn, Trish and Liz have kindly allowed me to show their work here on my blog, so thank you to you all for the opportunity to share our work here. 

Also a very big thank you to those who were so generous with their time and help on the day of the opening.

Close-up detail of manuka flowers. Section of Tapestry by Marilyn Rea-Menzies.
In the gallery these flowers had a 3 dimensional quality when viewed from across the room.

Close-up of tapestry weaving by Liz Arnold. I had seen this work on line and never fully appreciated the exquisite detail. 

Close-up detail of tapestry weaving by Patricia Armour.
These works were far more textural than I had imagined when seeing her work on-line

Who's Ya Mama?
My own work, finally I had the incentive to get this weaving off the loom in time for the exhibition.

Me and Marilyn taking a breather after the job of hanging. 

After initial reservations about how to go about it with the hanging equipment used by the gallery, the hanging actually ended up being one of the least complicated and stress free I have been involved with.

Jenny hard at work preparing the work ready for the opening.

Pics from Blenheim Trip - Other peoples work.

While I was away for 10 days in Blenheim I went to the opening of Do Make-Make Do, an exhibition of works by Val Griffith Jones. It was a selection of whimsical and yet quite severe social comment through the fibre medium. I was particularly drawn to the sofa/couch works on display. Although it is a 3 dimensional craft, the display of knitted work is often presented in a very 2 dimensional way.  This exhibition definitely presented knits in all its 3 dimensional glory.

Fibre wreath commemorating the Anzacs and in recognition of the passing of one of their members , made by the local guild.

Anzac Day. This year was the first time I have been to a service for many years and it was quite a moving experience. 100 years of ANZAC will be remembered in 3 years time and this years parade has inspired me to start work on some pieces for the centennial in 2015.  

Korowai

I spent some time at the Blenheim Museum. This maori cloak known as a korowai, is made from the muka/long fibres of the harekeke/NZ flax bush. It is an 1800's example of the traditional off-loom weaving that is so familiar to all NZ weavers. 

Close-ups of weavings by Peg Moorehouse

The reason I was at the Blenheim Museum was because Peg Moorehouse had an exhibition of her work there. Peg is one of NZ's best known and earliest contemporary weavers. Her work on display showed work from the 1980's through to the present day and was an inspiration. Click on the link in the right hand column to see more of her stunning works.

Weaving by Ann Cameron

This weaving was on display as part of the NZ/Australian display of tapestry works traveling between both countries, and entitled Circles and Sqaures. This piece caught my eye as it was such an interesting interpretation of tapestry, as well a stunningly simple design that was like a magnet to my eye.

FOUR DIRECTIONS IN TAPESTRY

Close-up of Inquistion Revisited, one of a pair of weavings.
My own interpretation of Kieth Haring and Judy Cicago as inspiration.
Weavings based on drawings from my 1998 sketch book

FOUR DIRECTIONS IN TAPESTRY EXHIBITION

Official opening of this is tomorrow @ 11am. If you are going to the Creative Fibre Festival in Blenheim, or you or someone you know  lives there, grab the opportunity to veiw four different artists creating contemporary design tapestries. Patricia Amour, Elizabeth Arnold, and Marilyn Rea-Menzies are the other members of the NZ Proffessional Weavers Network that are showing their work in this show. We are all producing very different work, and it is a great opportunity for tapestry weavers to see where those of us that have been weaving tapestry technique for a while are going with it.

While this exhibition is on I will be giving a lecture entitled Expanding Your Creative Responses at the NZ Creative Fibre National Exhibition on Saturday at 1.15pm.

Weaving Letters Of The Alphabet

Weaving letters is always a bit of a challenge and has been the subject of many tapestry weaving workshops. However it is more time consuming than it is difficult to do. As long as you follow the lines on the cartoon behind the work and ensure the warp count is high enough to avoid obvious jumps across the warp threads, it is no more difficult than blending or hatching techniques can be. The speech bubble shown below here is part of a portrait weaving I will be exhibiting in the Four Directions show.

Anime/Manga Design Influence

As a child I was discouraged from reading comic books, they were seen as very inferior reading material in our house. But I do remember small stacks of second hand comics being in the house from time to time after visits to friends and cousins who were willing to part with some of their old unwanted ones. Since the 1980's the street art movement has been gaining kudos in the mainstream art scene, and  I have remained fascinated with this definitive graphic style of art. Some of the tapestries I will be putting into the Four Directions In Tapestry exhibition will reflect on this continued somewhat taboo art influence. With its defined areas of block colour and solid lines the anima/manga style lends itself to tapestry weaving.

Elizabeth Arnold, Patricia Armour, Marilyn Rea-Menzies and I are having an exhibition of our tapestry weavings at Clear Water and Clear Skies Galleries, 204 High Street, Blenheim. 

As the title suggests, this exhibition will reflect where each of us are heading with our work. This is a great opportunity for visiting tapestry weavers to view how four established weavers approach different aspects of design, and the visual diversity that contemporary images in tapestry has to offer. 

The exhibition runs from the 20th April to the 6th May. As the annual Creative Fibre Festival opens on the 26th in Blenheim we will be having a meet the weavers morning tea from 11am-12.30pm on Thursday 26th April to coincide with the opening of this event. 

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to explore viewer reaction to this ancient craft presented as modern art. It is this aspect of tapestry weaving that I find the most exciting and I am loving this opportunity to have my work out there in the same arena as these other three very able and professional craft artists. I will be popping into the gallery most days between the 19th and 29th April so if you want to meet up with me I'm sure the gallery staff will be able to let me know if you would like to arrange a time to meet and talk about my weavings.