Threading ancient land-forms together

Alvena Hall, ‘Funisia lace vessel’, Photo: Michel Kluvanek

A new textile exhibition Contemplating an Archean Land opens next Sunday 7 October at Prospect Gallery, and features the work of Ines Parker and Alvena Hall. 

Alvena Hall, a lace expert who recently was a finalist in the Love Lace 2011 exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney and also this years Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, works explore the geological record of when the great continents formed. Inspired by the Ediacara Hills in the northern Flinders Ranges, her pieces also look into the deep ices ages, erosion of the ancient sea pavements and the ongoing discovery of fossils in the area today.

Ines Parker, ‘No. 3 Karlwe Karlwe series’, woven tapestry: wool, cotton, silk, 59 x 28cm.

Ines Parker's inspiration is drawn from the Devils Marbles in Northern Territory, whilst the artist was camping in the area. According to the local Warumungu indigenous Australians, the huge rounded stones are eggs laid during the Dreamtime by the Rainbow Serpent. The works emphasize the mystical presence of land formations, which transform throughout different times of the day. 

"The collection of artwork produced, including wall pieces in traditional quilt format, 

complex cloth with elaborated surfaces, smaller panels, and sculptured lace, takes on the notion that time is a kind of filter and it selects only certain biota, under very special conditions to become fossils. That they are ever found at all is even more remarkable." - Prospect Gallery, 2012

Tea–bag trail by Susan Long

Contemporary textile art quilts are big news at the moment. This one, titled 'Tea-bag Trail' features tea dyeing, shibori and running stitch, based on the design concept of a journey by road map, through an Australian 

outback landscape. 

It was accepted for entry to Dare to Differ 2011, a contemporary quilt exhibition curated by the Quilters Guild of SA. Dare to 

Differ 2011, was open to all quilt makers resident in Australia. It was a juried selection. 

My design evolved, whilst experimenting with natural tea- dyeing and a shibori technique. I folded and tied with string, small packages of bleached calico that resembled tea-bags. In the tea dyeing process, some of the tea ran into the folds of the calico forming a grid-like pattern. 

This grid-pattern created the structure of a map. After laying out the tea-dyed calico and lining up the grid-pattern, I patched and pieced it together by hand, sewing through two layers with invisible stitches. Stitching through two or more layers of predominantly fibre was an entry requirement, to comply with the structure of a quilt. With a 2B pencil, I hand drew an imaginary section of an Australian outback road map, directly onto the calico. Strong diagonal and curving lines criss-cross my quilt landscape, adding perspective. The earthy and tonal colour variations of the tea dyeing, combined with the shibori, grid patterning and string resist, determined my colour palette: mono-chromatic (tones of warm and cool browns). 

DMC brand embroidery stranded and perle cotton threads were used throughout, along with running stitch for its strong mark making qualities. Other stitches included back stitch, stem stitch and couched thread. To complete the design, I added a focal point: a place where the eyes can rest before moving around the design. I embroidered a circle in stem stitch in the lower left hand side of the quilt. This was my focal point. The circle references a place or location situated on a map. The road map layer links journey and travel through an outback Australian landscape to destination Adelaide, South Australia.

For a visual artist (not a quilt maker), I felt a sense of achievement that my quilt, 'Tea-bag Trail' which began its journey based on experiments with natural tea dyeing and shibori and journey by map, was accepted for Dare to Differ, 2011, contemporary quilt exhibition. The exhibition ran from 30 September - 23 October, 2011, held at Gallery M Cultural Centre.

Susan Long graduated in 2009 with a (Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design) from Adelaide College of the Arts, Adelaide, S.A. This article was published in Embellish Magazine Issue No. 9. Her next exhibition 'House Special', mixed media works by Red House Group Inc. members, opened on 28 September at Gallery M, Marion Cultural Centre and runs until 21 October.

To the Surface

Local Adelaide emerging artist Meg Cowell returns with her latest exhibition To the Surface featuring large-scale images of women's couture, wedding dresses and under-garments in various stages of transformation. 

After exhibiting her previous body of work Sanctum at Prospect Gallery and Brunswick Street Gallery in Melbourne last year, Cowell draws our attention to discarded feminine garments and gives them new life by reviving them into beautiful and sensual objects.

“During this period a transitory world emerges, a kind-of biological metamorphosis,” she says. “The garments become diaphanous and beautiful, highlighting their mystery”.

Highly evocative, these images initially call upon a sense of humour, for those who have walked the city streets in the early hours of the morning have stumbled across remnants of another's late night antics. However, when submerged underwater the works summon a darkness and uncertainity, forcing the viewer to wonder what may have occurred and how did these intimate garments end up plucked in trees, road-sides and public-toilet waste-bins.

To the Surface is showing at AP Bond Gallery, 2 Ann Street Stepney from June 21- July 8. For more information visit the gallery and artists' websites.

Unravelled :: Red Poles Gallery

Red Poles Gallery, McLaren Vale presents their annual textiles exhibition this Saturday 2 June at 3pm.

 Unravelled features the work of past Red Thread Collective member Cheryl Hutchens, Emily Barber, Bev Bills, Vicki Bone, Kel Chester, Raelene Draheim, Melissa Gillespie, Pen Housman,  Geraldine Krieg, Vonni Munro, Judy Stephens, Liz Steveson, Kaaren Temme who each demonstrate the enduring relationship between landscape and textiles.

Craftsouth :: Residencies Artist Talk

 

Lisa Farrant, Almond and Marginata, 2010, Artroom5

Have you ever thought about removing yourself from your regular activities, your place of comfort and experiencing another corner of the country to get inspired. How about applying for one of the many arts residencies across Australia or even overseas?

Not sure what its all about, then head along to Craftsouth's Residencies Artist Talk to learn the benefits, opportunities and creative growth experiences of undertaking a residency from Adrian Potter who undertook a residency at Canberra School of Art and Lesa Farrant who has completed a residency at Soda Studios in North Fremantle, WA.

This Tuesday 24 April at 6pm, at Craftsouth office Level 1, 38 Hindley Street. Craftsouth members get in for free and for non-members only $15 | RSVP is essential and for further information contact Craftsouth on (08) 8410 1822 or email craftsouth@craftsouth.org.au.

And to find out where you might be able to attend an arts residency in your discipline visit ResArtis.org

Carclew Youth Arts turns 40

Reason for Being :: The Daily Disused

In the age of global concerns enduring natural resources, an interesting exhibition coming up in May is Reason for Being at Prospect Gallery. Curator Irmina van Niele has selected seven local artists Fern Hudson, Ann Newmarch, Youngsoon Jin, Cathy Brooks, Katie Harten, Judith Carletti and Christopher Sprod to reconsider the waste of the human daily life. 

Artists have long acquired the ability to be able to look at someone's 'junk' and recycle found materials and objects into artworks, but it can be more difficult for others who will buy something new over repairing it. The artists want visitors, and what we all should consider ‘what does one keep, what for and for how long?’ and 'why waste?'  

Reason for Being opens on Sunday 6 May 3pm at Prospect Gallery

Contextart FORUM 14–20 April

Only a week until TAFTA's Contextart Forum in the Blue Mountains. Offering both 2 day and 4 day workshops with 29 tutors across a variety of textile techniques including papermaking, basketry, felting, shibori and dyeing, artists' books and even woven jewellery it is incredible opportunity for those wanting to add a wide range of skills to their practice. For the full list of workshops and their teachers, visit the forum website.

Sayonara, Red Thread closes its doors...

It is with deep regret, that Red Thread Collective must close its doors at the Box Factory Community Centre. After running for almost 18 months, it has been an incredible experience meeting so many talented and inspiring artists in Adelaide and many from overseas. I hope everyone who has attended our meetings over this time has gained knowledge and confidence from meeting other emerging artists, to further develop their art practices.


The RTC blog with continue to provide information on relevant exhibitions, events, grants, awards and workshops to emerging artists, so please keep us informed, if there is anything you would like featured and shared amongst this network.

Once again, thank you for teaching others the gift of being an artist and for sharing your experiences.

The Artists' Roadmap to Success

Part of the reason for establishing Red Thread Collective was for emerging artists to be able to connect and share knowledge in order to further establish their careers as professional artists. There is a whole other level to being an artist aside from making the work. A new book has been launched by Katharine T. Carter & Associates 'Accelerating the Curves' is a roadmap for artists to have an endurable and successful career. Constructed in three varying levels of development, Stage One, Two and Three, the publication offers practical guides and examples to develop a workable plan and give artists the courage necessary to get to where they want to head. Whilst the book is slightly on the pricey side ($95) it is well worth the investment for those seriously considering a career in art. Visit this website for an in-depth introduction written by Katherine T. Carter who has had over 25 years experience working with artists to achieve their goals and purpose.

http://www.ktcassoc.com/roadmap/roadmap_intro.html

To market, to market Red Thread goes...

Come see us this weekend Saturday 10 December 10am - 2pm at the Box Factory Community Christmas Market where members Luka Va, Jane Lang and Kara Growden will be selling their beautiful handmade wares including cards, wrapping paper, ornaments and lots more to get in the chrissie spirit. Plenty of things to do including workshops, local entertainment and food. 59 Regent Street South, Adelaide

Scribbles + Glitter Beginnings | Amanda McCavour

Toronto-based artist, Amanda McCavour, creates incredibly detailed and tonal drawings by sewing onto a dissolvable fabric, leaving the threads vulnerable and left to hang for themselves, and effectively subtly distorting the imagery in her works. 

Recreating more literal representations of the objects within McCavour's surrounds include Living Room and StandIn for Home whilst more organic and repetitive shapes can be found in installations Icebox and Scribble.

Amanda McCavour graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. She has participated in a number of solo and group exhibitions in Toronto, and is currently an artist in residence in the Harboufront Centre's Studio.

Cut. Slice. Fold. | Emma van Leest workshop

For those of you in Melbourne, or heading over next weekend Paper Convention Collective presents workshop by the one and only Emma van Leest as part of Cut. Slice. Fold.  programme on Saturday 19 November. 

This workshop will enable you to learn the skills of Paper-Cutting techniques which is currently pushing contemporary creative expression to new frontiers. Emma has exhibited widely and was recently featured on ABC TV’s Art Nation and in the publication Paper cutting: contemporary artists, timeless craft by Laura Heyenga & Rob Ryan.

Make sure you don't miss out and book your place 'here' tickets are $80 for the 3 hour session, all you need to bring is a stanley knife/scalpel, with papers kindly donated by K.W.Doggett Fine Papers.


For more on her practice and images of her work visit her website

26,000 piece Textile Archive

Andrea Aranow Textile Archive from Aaron Rayburn on Vimeo.

The Great Tablecloth | Red Poles Gallery, McLaren Vale

The Great Tablecloth

29 October 2012 - 1 January 2012

Red Poles Gallery, McLaren Vale

Opening: Saturday 29 October 3pm

Features Red Thread member and feature artist Cheryl Hutchens and also good friend and mentor Irmina van Niele plus a number of artists working in jewellery, painting, mixed media, glass and ceramic... should be a hoot!

How does your Arts Career grow?

How Does your Arts Career Grow? free public forum

Monday 31 October 2011 | 6:30-9:30pm

Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre

An exclusive opportunity to take part in a panel discussion with some of Adelaide’s most progressive and proactive arts professionals. Contribute and share your thoughts on what it takes to start, grow and sustain a career in the modern day arts industry. Whether your passion lies with performing, publicity, marketing or even law, bring your fresh ideas and tough questions for an evening of thorough discussion and forward thinking.

Panel includes: Christie Anthoney (Facilitator), Creative Director, TAFE SA AC Arts; Annette Tripodi, Operations and Program Manager, WOMADelaide; Brigid Noone, Independent Artist & Curator; Edwin Kemp Attrill, Artistic Director, University of Adelaide Theatre Guild and Ianto Ware, Project Manager, Renew Adelaide

How Does Your Arts Career Grow? is presented by Adelaide Festival Centre and Carclew Youth Arts and is a free event, however online registration is essential. To secure your seat and for more information, visit www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/theartsgrowthwww.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/theartsgrowth

Feature Artist | Cheryl Hutchens

Tell us about yourself, how would you describe your work? My work explores the experience of illness and the fragility of the body. Recent work has used embroidery to investigate some common viruses and bacteria which cause us pain and suffering.

Who or what inspires you to create? Most of all I really like making things. If I wasn’t making art I’d be stitching home wares or making clothes. I’m fascinated by the internal workings of the body and I get a great deal of my inspiration from medical textbooks, documentaries and TV shows like Embarrassing Bodies.

What materials do you like to work with? Any fibre, but mostly cloth based textiles. At the moment I’m really interested in embroidery and knitting.

What are your favourite 5 art related websites or blogs?

www.craftaustralia.org.au – for industry news and information about grants, competitions and exhibitions

craftvic.org.au – I would like to say I visit just for news…but often also for shopping

www.ravelry.com – a fantastic source for knitting inspiration

yarnstorm.blogs.com/jane_brocket/ – wonderful blog by an English author devoted to all the good things in life (…knitting, quilting, baking) and she posts beautiful photographs of her creations and travels

www.visualarts.net.au – NAVA is good for arts business advice (and you can look me up in the artist galleries here to see more of my work)

If you could give one piece of advice for emerging artists, what would it be? Make the work that you want to make and don’t be influenced too much by other’s opinions.

Cheryl Hutchens graduated from the South Australian School of Art in 1999 with a Bachelor of Visual Arts. She studied dress-making at Douglas Mawson Institute of TAFE before moving to London in 2003, where she lived for two years and worked in the Library and Archive of the Tate Gallery. Cheryl was a finalist in the Stanthorpe Art Festival and the Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Award in 2010, and in February this year her Break, suffer, heal series was acquired by the Adelaide University’s art collection. Cheryl is currently undertaking post-graduate study at the South Australian School of Art.

Exhibitions | Dare to Differ & Ernabella Arts

Spring has definitely sprung and October has many wonderful exhibitions, artist talks and workshops to offer. Dare to Differ at Gallery M is a celebration of contemporary quilts curated by the Quilters Guild of South Australia and features Red Thread member Susan Long. Head along to the exhibition floor talk "What is an Art Quilt?" on Sunday 16 October 2pm, which looks at the quilts on display as well as hearing from Suzanne Gummow on what makes a good quilt. Cost is FREE however bookings are essential 8377 2904 and for more details visit the Gallery M website

Image: June Brown, rust on cotton

SA Museum will present an exhibition of new works from Ernabella Arts, Australia's oldest Indigenous arts centre, acknowledging its long history but with sights firmly set on the future. Opening from 14 October - 13 November, the museum will run storytelling and basket making workshops which can be booked through the Education Team 8207 7429 for more info visit the SA Museum website

'the empty nest' exhibition opening

I welcome you all to join me to celebrate the opening of my first solo exhibition the empty nest, next Sunday 2 October 4-6pm at Seedling Art Space, cnr Main Road & Turners Avenue, Coromandel Valley.

In this exhibition, I have utilised handmade papers to create works reflecting my childhood experience of separated homes filled with coming and going, traversing from one to the other and attempting to discover my identity as a whole, rather than in fragmented parts. 

Accompanying the sculpture/installation work of hybrid nest/egg forms, is a series of large format photographs of found empty nests, symbolising a home once occupied, a remnant of place no longer shared.

The exhibition is open 11am-3pm Saturdays and Sundays from 1 - 16 October and I will be sitting the gallery during this time, so please feel free to come look and have a chat.

Collective Meeting | 5 October

Come join our friendly group of artists at our next meeting on 

Wednesday 5 October 6:30 start - 9pm.Head to Box Factory, Regent Street Adelaide upstairs to the Hurtle Room, all you need to do is bring along your current work or project and be open to sharing your ideas and techniques with other artists. 

If you think  someone would be interested in attending our meetings, we really enjoy meeting artists/craftspeople from all different backgrounds. You never know how your work might inspire another or what you may learn from others, so the Red Thread door is always open and welcome.