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Next meeting - Tuesday, 15 July 2008

Continuing our programme of exciting speakers from the textile field, next meeting we present Sarah Toohey and Anthea Carboni (7pm at Craft House, Clyde Road, Menora).  Visitors welcome - a small door charge covers a light supper. 

At our last meeting ...

we heard from Cara Ratzczak and Carolyn Gorman.

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.

Tapestry Workshop with Joy Smith - July 14th to 17th

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.  More details on our Events page.

Fibres West 2008  -  5-11 October 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.

April Meeting Speaker

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.

March meeting speakers:

On Tuesday March 18 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.

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

Konishi Sensei - Basketry Workshop held on April 6

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.

NEXT EVENTS:

See the Events page for details of the following two events... (and lots more)....

WAFTA ...

If you have ideas or suggestions for WAFTA activities why not drop us an email (via the link on the left hand side bar) ... or better still, if your suggestion involves an event or activity, why not even join the WAFTA Committee to help deliver your particular idea?  All volunteers are busy people but have found that getting involved is a most interesting way to meet and participate in the local fibre scene. 

Items for the webpage are also most welcome ... if you know of an event, please share it with us.   It is perhaps easy to assume that we will know about all textiles events but web author works in corporate field so doesn't have as much access to info as would be ideal. 

Or just send an email to say hello ...or show us your work ...