Not New - A Fibre Arts Exhibition

Tonight was the opening of  the Not New Exhibition. This time last year I was invited to participate in a group exhibition to be held at the Fibre Arts - Autumn event. It was such an honour to be asked to exhibit work at this exhibition and for the past twelve months I have spent quite some time planning and constructing the work for the event. Each participant was asked to submit four pieces of work, each to be seventy centimetres wide and ninety centimetres long and to respond to the theme Not New.

Each of my pieces are stitched nudes and form a series that I called As Nature Intended. All of the fabrics are old/vintage and recycled. The threads mostly from a deceased estate or my stash. The fabrics have been naturally dyed (eco dyed or botanical contact print) using the bundling technique and rely on colour obtained from plant material and scrap metal. The concept of the nude is not new and the pieced/patchwork quilt style of hanging with the running stitch holding the layers together is heavily influenced by the traditional forms of patchwork, quilting and Kantha.

As Nature Intended - 1

And a close up to show the stitching, 1930’s fabrics were pieced together then overstitched and dyed before being attached to the background fabrics.

As Nature Intended - 2

Detailed views

As Nature Intended - 3

Detailed view.

As Nature Intended - 4

Detailed view.

At the opening

And this fun Artist’s impression of the exhibitors.

Some of the work from my co exhibitors.

Melanie Hill

Zoe Ferguson

Gaye Nieiwenhof 

Faye Roselt

Heather Barrett

Annette Packett

It was