WAFTA
supporting and advocating Western Australian fibre and textile practice
Events 2008
WAFTA aims to hold an event for its members every month - general meetings
and site or studio visits. In 2008,
numerous interesting guests were invited to speak at the general meetings, and
many exciting visits were organised. WAFTA was also
involved in a local community day and craft fair and many WAFTA members attended
local textile exhibitions, workshops and had their displayed work in exhibitions.
A sample of
exciting Western Australian events are listed below, but many more were
advertised in the WAFTA newsletter!
Guest Speakers and Site/Studio Visits
Craft House, Clyde St, Menora & various Perth locations
November 18: Nalda Searles (Speaker)
September 16: Paul Green-Armytage (Speaker)
August 16: The Embroiderers' Guild of Wa Inc., Alfred Cove (Visit)
July 13: Sarah Toohey, Anthea Carboni (Speakers)
June 7: Anna Chandler Studios, Osborne Park (Visit)
May 20: Carolyn Gorman, Cara Ratajczak (Speakers)
April 6: Konishi Sensei Japanese Basketry Workshop
April 22: Lucille Martin (Speaker, Film)
March 18: Susan Flavell, Olga Cironis (Speakers)
February 23: Terra Ecologia Studios - Charlene O'brien (Visit)
A Dolly Making Workshop with Nalda Searles
Middle Swan
November 23 2008
We are both limited and expanded by the worlds we choose to bring into existence.
Photographs:
Dolls by Nalda Searles
General Meeting: Nalda Searles
Craft House, Clyde St, Menora
November 18 2008
The WAFTA year ended with a final general meeting and party before the Xmas
break. Western Australian artist Nalda Searles had just returned from 11 days in
rural Mandya near Bangalore, where Nalda, Lindy Frayne, India Flint ran a very
exciting 6 day workshop. The Craft House was filled to capacity and Nalda held
the enormous audience captive as she spoke about the three women who have had
the greatest mentoring influence on her art practice; potter Eileen Keys, felter
Eva Sounness and basket weaver Marjorie Ridley. A wonderful evening.
Photograph:
Billie by Eva Sounness
Community Day
Craft House, Clyde St, Menora
November 16 2008
A day to celebrate the organisations that utilise the Craft House, in
conjunction with members of the community. A great opportunity to see how
various groups operate. WAFTA will have a table with members' items on display;
some will be for sale. Entry by gold coin donation. There will be tea, coffee and scones available. Enquiries to
WAFTA.
Fibres West 2008
Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, Gelorup
October 5-11 2008
This residential fibre event is held every three years in Bunbury, Western
Australia. Workshops fill quickly. An event brochure and a tutor list is
available at
www.fibreswest.com.au
WA Craft Quilt and Stitch Show
Claremont Showgrounds
August 1-3 2008, 9:00am - 5:00pm
WAFTA will have a small stand to promote the association and there will be
free entry for volunteers who mind the stand for a half day roster - usually
there are at least two people at a time. Interested in volunteering? ...
send an email via the link at left with your preferred day and whether morning
or afternoon suits).
More information at the
Craft Fair
website.
stitched & bound 2008 Exhibition
Mundaring Arts Centre
July 4 - August 3 2008
An Exhibition of Contemporary Quilts. The eighth in a series of juried exhibitions presented by the West Australian
Quilters’ Association. stitched and bound was established to encourage
and maintain standards of excellence in craftsmanship and design in contemporary
quilting, and to promote the crafts of patchwork and quilting in WA.
A Dying Art Exhibition
Mundaring Arts Centre
July 4 - August 3 2008
A special display of textiles incorporating natural fungi dyes presented in
conjunction with workshops and artists talks for the Mundaring Shire’s Truffle
Festival.
Tapestry Workshop with Joy Smith
Anna Chandler Studio Visit QuiltWest General Meeting: Carolyn Gorman, Cara Ratajczak General Meeting: Lucille Martin Konishi Sensei - Japanese Basketry Workshop
General Meeting: Susan Flavell, Olga Cironis Susan Flavell's most recent works involve the sculpture of animals
and humans, almost 'drawn' she says by strips of cardboard over a simple
armature. Each character develops a personality and presence of its own. Olga Cironis, also an award winning artist, transforms everyday
objects by covering or embalming them with fabric. Olga and her family
emigrated to Australia and she says her work is much influenced by the stories
of her parents and grandparents. Lighting and use of recycled materials is
a feature of her work. There is often a performance aspect to the
installations where viewers can move objects, write on them or even take them
home! Olga has an exhibition entitled "Handle me gently" coming up at the
Turner Galleries at 470 William Street, Northbridge. Opening night
is 6pm on April 11 and exhibition continues until May 10 2008. For gallery
opening times see
www.turnergalleries.com.au
Pollard Studios, 2 Otway Place, Bedfordale, WA
July 14 - 17 2008, 9.30am to 4:00pm
Cost: $300 for WAFTA members, $330 non-members.
Joy Smith is an Australian Tapestry Artist who lives and works out of Melbourne.
Joy has been an active artist and weaver since the 1980s, producing over 200 personal tapestries or commissions.
WAFTA is delighted to bring Joy Smith to Perth and offer our textile community this wonderful opportunity to work with her.
Participants will also need to purchase their own yarns however as works are small, no great
quantity is required. Class is limited to 12.
More details available on the
workshop booking form. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this form ... download the free Acobat Reader program at
www.adobe.com)
25 Pearson Way, Osborne Park, WA
June 7 2008, 10.30am to 11.30am
(No need to book, event is no charge).
Bring a friend!
Craft and Quilt Fair, Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, WA
May 21 to 25 2008, 9:00am - 5:00pm
This is the annual exhibition of the work of the WA Quilting Association Inc (including works from their very active Contemporary Quilt group).
Craft House, Clyde St, Menora
May 20 2008
Local textile artist/designer Cara
Ratajczak followed her passion for textiles in numerous directions
and unusual places. Cara spoke about her experiences working with
the Pakistani embroidery women in a remote village
of Pakistan and her
recent textile/print venue Make Studio.
Carolyn Gorman is a jeweller,
artist and retail manager and describes her creative practice as an "artist
who makes jewellery". Carolyn draws her inspiration from the
south-west
coastal region, specifically with the objects found on the beaches near the
family farm.
Craft House, Clyde St, Menora
April 22 2008
Lucille Martin is a well known textile artist from the eastern states who has two articles written on her work in a recent
Textile Fibre Forum magazine (Vol 27, Issue 1, No 89 2008, pp34-35). Lucille presented a slide show of her work and also detailed a two year long
community project where she worked with traditional embroiderers to create a unique contemporary piece, combining traditional embroidery skills with some
contemporary artistic direction. The film documents the growing pains of the group as it organises some 50 or so members to define, refine and execute a project that is
seemingly well outside its comfort zone. The full film has been purchased by the ABC and will be shown on Sunday Arts later in the year.
Atwell Art Centre Gallery, Alfred Cove
April 6 2008
Konishi Sensei is a senior lecturer at the Kawashima Textile
School, Kyoto, Japan where he currently teaches basketry and weaving. He
was introduced to working with raffia 30 years ago. Using coiling
techniques he produces intricate sculptural fibre artworks that are regularly
exhibited in galleries throughout Japan. The photo is student work done at the
one day workshop he presented for WAFTA.
Craft House, Clyde St, Menora
March 18 2008
Susan Flavell and Olga Cironis discussed their
influences and artistic directions. Each presented a series of slides
showing past work and recent exhibitions.
Both
have had numerous exhibitions at Sculpture by the Sea and the Fremantle Art
Gallery where you may have seen their work.