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

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

As Far as the Eye Can See

Question: What happens when 22 women who work as professional designers, artists and dancers to doctors, scientists and project managers put their crochet skills to good use? 

Answer: A gallery size, giant eye artwork including 500 hand crocheted squares using 182,784 stitches all in the name of raising funds for Gap Filler, a creative urban regeneration initiative that is taking art and community to Christchurch's vacant city spaces after the city's devastating earthquake in February. 

The work is currently on display at Rodeo, 162-168 Gilbert Street, Adelaide until 28 October before heading to Christchurch to be exhibition in November. For more information and images visit the website here.

The group seeks to continue making a contribution to the Christchurch community through ongoing projects to connect artists, community and provide story.

Crochet + Social Activism Unite

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef - "Ladies Silurian Atoll" (detail). 

Photo © The Institute For Figuring (by Margaret Wertheim)

When I conjure up images of one of Australia's great wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef, I picture an explosion of colour in the most electric hues. Whilst I haven't been lucky enough to visit the colossal reef system stretching for over 2,600kms, I am afraid I will be disappointed with what I would see. Scientists now believe with the affects of global warming, the reef will become devastated in coming years. Now you may be wondering if Red Thread has turned into a group to analyse the natural world and its many manifestations. Wrong! In 2005, sisters Margaret and Christine Wertheim created the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project to pay homage to the threat of devastation to this fragile monster. Initially beginning in their humble living room and gradually expanding throughout their house, today their are crochet communities or 'satellites' popping up in Chicago, New York, London to Dublin and Capetown. Now the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) is calling for South Australian craftspeople to join in and create your own hyperbolic model which marries handicraft with mathematics, marine biology, social activism and community art on a global scale. To see the many worldwide contributions to the projects visit RiAus and get inspired and get on board. 

Craftsouth Traditional Craft Skills Workshops

After the success of last year's program of traditional craft skills workshops run by Craftsouth, they are pleased to announce their new program for 2011. Looking for a new direction in your work, or want to learn a traditional technique from a craft practitioner with a culturally and linguistical background, whilst connecting to other South Australian artists and community members, then sign up for these wonderful workshops.

Textile craft workshops running from one day to 10 week courses include Bangeledeshi quilt embroidery, Nigerian indigo dyeing, Bosnian sock knitting and Middle Eastern knotted rug weaving. Material fees are included in the cost of each workshop and Craftsouth members receive a 20% discount.

For more information on the schedule and to register for workshops email niki.vouis@craftsouth.org.au or visit the Craftsouth website

Our stall at Box Factory Community Christmas Market

Come see us next weekend at the Box Factory Community Christmas Market where we will be selling our beautiful handmade arts and crafts including unique christmas-themed wares to get in the chrissie spirit. Plenty of things to keep you entertained like workshops, homegrown food exchange, games and whose never to old to get their facepainted...

11 December 10am - 2pm

59 Regent Street South Adelaide

Also sincere apologies to anyone who came later on during the meeting this fortnight, we finished the session earlier than posted but we will be back in full swing next fortnight on 15 December and look forward to seeing what you are working on and meeting some friendly faces!!

Filling Holes with Wool

Lara Torr, Prue Gramp and Meghann Wilson present new works in Filling Holes with Wool at Urban Cow Studio from 1 - 31 December. 

Each artists incorporates embroidery into their pieces, encouraging the viewer to consider the finer details of traditional craft practices. Gramp explores the narratives within the history of shipwrecks and icebergs in small scale embroidered and painted works, whilst Torr draws inspiration from vintage knitting patterns with her own treasured possessions and imagery from cult horror classics such as The Shining and Suspiria are evident in Wilson's intricate painting and embroidery works. 

While the opening on Wednesday 1 December is on the same night as one of our upcoming meetings, make sure you get to see this wonderful exhibition, demonstrating how textiles has progressed into contemporary art. Also Lara will be exhibiting in an emerging contemporary textile survey next year at Prospect Gallery curated by Red Thread Collective members Kara Growden & Kate O'Leary. 

Who are we?

Red Thread Collective aims to form a supportive and encouraging network, providing information on relevant exhibitions, events, grants, awards and workshops to emerging artists, within first 5 years of establishing a professional art practice.