Image: Carmen Tyrer, Euclay Australia
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News from the
Western Australian Fibre & Textile Association
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Welcome to the first edition of the Western Australian Fibre & Textile Association’s new monthly newsletter: Sampler. This is where we share news about what WAFTA’s members are up to, and how you can view their exhibited work, participate in their workshops, attend their events, and get involved in their projects.
This is a public newsletter so you are welcome to share it on social media, forward it on to anyone you think will be interested in this month’s content, or encourage others to subscribe via the WAFTA website homepage.
Note that WAFTA sends another newsletter called Threads to our members. Threads contains updates from the WAFTA committee, entry forms for WAFTA exhibitions, member-only opportunities such as scholarships, details of member-only events, and a curated list of current opportunities such as exhibition callouts, residencies, and awards.
We have over 230 members located across Western Australia and beyond. This year is our 30th anniversary and we are gearing up for a year of celebrations, including an initiative that people anywhere in the world will be able to enjoy.
We are an active group so get comfortable, open your diary, and make a date to experience some WAFTA member magic.
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Serendipity
Old Courthouse Complex, 4-6 Queen St, Busselton, WA 6280
27 February - 25 March
Solo exhibition of photography and basketry by Sandy Winkle
Inspired by recent travels to Bangladesh and India, the vibrant textiles and cultural richness of these regions deeply inform Winkle's evolving practice, celebrating the spirit and vibrancy of diverse traditions.
Facebook link to Opening function event: Saturday 1 March, 1 – 2.30pm
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The Garden of Eden
Terrace Greenhouse, 223 South Terrace, South Fremantle, WA 6162
17 March - 30 March
Solo exhibition by Cassie-Jo Davis celebrating the female form with floral and foliage elements and a dash of religious iconography. Colourful flowers made from beautiful textiles, bespoke one off garments, wearable Art Gowns and assemblage sculptural art pieces for the walls make for a sensuous and colourful original exhibition.
Cassi-Jo will also be exhibiting in Bridgetown in April as part of the Blackwood River Arts Trail.
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Drylands
Holmes a Court Gallery, 10 Douglas St, West Perth WA 6005
8 February – 26 April
Drylands brings together the visions of nine artists, responding to eight different parts of the WA landscape. These artworks reveal sparse realities and inherent ironies and make meaningful provocations that invite us to consider the state of our environment. The exhibition includes work by WAFTA members Valdene Diprose with Molly Ryan, and Tania Spencer.
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Batavia Unravelled
Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, 24 Chapman Road, Geraldton, WA 6530
8 February - 4 May
A group exhibition developed and curated by Emma-Clare Bussell which includes work by Susie Vickery. Finding new expression through craft and the stories of women, the exhibition draws on WA Collections, the CGG Art Collection and generates new responses to this historical milestone by contemporary WA artists.
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DRAWING A LINE – Staff and technician showcase
Gallery Central, 12 Aberdeen St, Northbridge, WA 6000
3 February – 6 March
Drawing a Line is a dynamic group exhibition showcasing the works of current lecturing staff and technicians from across the NMTAFE Art and Design portfolio. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore contemporary approaches to drawing, highlighting how the medium is interpreted and integrated into diverse creative practices. It includes work by Julie Holmes-Reid.
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Sculpture by the Bay
Dunsborough Foreshore
1 - 3 March
This iconic event attracts over 100 artists for both the Main exhibition and the Small Sculpture prize. WAFTA member Merle Davis is one of the exhibitors with a stitched, woven, coiled and knotted whale sculpture made out of fishing debris and beach combing finds.
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Sculpture at Bathers
Bathers Beach, Fremantle
4 – 21 April
Sculpture at Bathers is a much-loved part of WA’s arts calendar. The 2025 exhibition features work by WAFTA members Merle Davis, Melanie Maclou, Jennie Nayton, and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.
Jill’s new crochet installation work ‘Encrusted with Jewels’ will be installed on and under the old jetty at the southern end of the beach. Various artists will be giving artists talks and volunteering on site during the exhibition.
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The Bachelor // Group Exhibition
Art Collective WA, 2/565 Hay Street, Perth, WA 6000
1 February - 1 March
Curated by Andrew Nicolls. This group exhibition includes work by WAFTA Life Member Nalda Searles and WAFTA member, Elisa Markes-Young. From heroic ideals to pop culture parody, this exhibition flips the script on the male nude.
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Creative Obsessions Members Exhibition
The Hampton Gallery, 189 Hampton Rd, Northampton WA 6535, Australia
21 March – 12 May
You’re invited to the 2025 Hampton Gallery Members Exhibition which includes work by WAFTA member, Kaye Boulden.
Opening event: 6pm on Friday 26 March. Enjoy a relaxing evening meeting the artists and viewing their most current works. Light refreshments will be available. Secure your place for the opening event here.
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stitched and bound Art Quilt Exhibition
Museum of the Great Southern, Residency Road, Albany / Kinjarling, WA 6330
18 January - 23 March
stitched and bound is The West Australian Quilters Association Inc. (WAQA) Contemporary Exhibition. It is a biennial, juried exhibition showcasing the innovative range of work being produced by Western Australian artists who challenge the usual concept of the ‘quilt’ medium. The exhibition is touring around Western Australia and includes work by many WAFTA members.
Also at Museum of the Great Southern: Wangee Maaje exhibition, from mid February onwards. This display in the front window display area of the Co-op Building will show pieces created during the weaving workshops run by Shandell Cummings during her Art on the Move residency.
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International Exhibitions
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The Broderers' Exhibition: The Art of Embroidery
Bankside Gallery, London
11.00am -6.00pm, 25 February - 1 March: 11.00am - 5.00pm 2 March
WAFTA member Susie Vickery features in this exhibition. Congratulations Susie this will be a spectacular show!
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Garden of Weaving with Cath Inman
Kalamunda, WA
Keeping the lost art of basketry and weaving alive using sustainable foraged materials.
Cath has a full programme of workshops listed on her website with new ones being added regularly. Current workshops include Random Weave with Vines; Looping, Cordage and Twining; Twined Baskets from the Garden; Circular Wall Piece; and Sculptural Palm Sheath Vessels.
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Wet Felting Ultra Fine Merino Wool Scarf
CASM (Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah), 63 Ormsby Terrace, Mandurah Western Australia 6210
10.00 am - 4.30 pm, 5 April
Cost: $155 - Includes all materials and tutorials plus tea, coffee, and cake
Learn the process of wet felting with award winning artist, Carmen Tyrer. Create your own wet felting, super fine merino wool scarf.
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Make your own Terracotta Herb and Plant labels
Earthwise Community 315 Bagot Road, Subiaco WA 6008
9.00am – 11.00 am, 22 March
Cost: $40 - Including all materials and firing
A workshop by multi-talented WAFTA member, Natalie Tonkin.
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Fibres West 2025
Just a few places remain for Fibres West 2025, a week-long textile art event which will take place from October 5 - 11, 2025 at Narrogin College of Agriculture, WA.
The program consists of ten workshops with outstanding national and international tutors. Workshops are suitable for beginners to experienced artists.
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WAFTA Busselton
Lotterywest Community Room, Marine House, 889 Geographe Bay Road, Busselton, WA 6280
10.00am - 1.00pm, Mondays
WAFTA members from Busselton and surrounds meet every Monday morning. Guests welcome. Our South West Regional Representative is Lorelie Smitt.
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WAFTA Albany
WAFTA members in the Great Southern meet regularly for studio visits, exhibition viewings, artist talks, and social gatherings. Our Great Southern Regional Representative is Annette Davis.
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Artist talk: Drylands Artist Talk #2
Holmes a Court Gallery, 10 Douglas St, West Perth WA 6005
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm, 1 March
Hear from Valdene Diprose and Molly Ryan. In an exciting collaboration these artists have used mycelium in the art making process. This is an art project that builds on science, aesthetics, and lived experience. It celebrates fungi’s unique, often unseen, unrecognised presence and acknowledges its importance in the ongoing health of dryland environments.
Presented in association with Perth Festival, 2025
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The Ceramics of Eileen Keys
Burt Street Gallery exhibition space , 1 Burt Street, Cottesloe WA 6011
3.00 pm, 23 February
Perth Studio Potters is delighted to host WA Living Treasure and WAFTA Life Member Nalda Searles who has kindly loaned over thirty ceramic pieces from her private collection showcasing works by Eileen Keys (1903-92).
Referred to as the 'Godmother of Western Australian ceramics', Eileen was a pioneering studio potter well known for her hand-built forms and use of locally sourced materials and minerals.
Nalda will give a talk and slideshow on her collaboration and friendship with Eileen whose ceramics will be on display at Burt Street gallery for one day only.
This event is fully booked but you can join the waitlist here.
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Jackets of the World - a presentation by Stephen Scourfield
The Embroiderers’ Guild, 565 Canning Highway, Alfred Cove
10.00am - 12.00pm, 20 March
Cost: $25 - includes morning tea.
Embroiderers’ Guild of Western Australia presents their first exciting talk for 2025 - Stephen Scourfield shares his interest in textiles and discusses his Jackets of the World project. Stephen will talk about the textiles, the stories they open up, and how his Jackets of the World project has started and grown.
Stephen Scourfield is a travel writer for the West Australian, the Sunday Times, Seven West Media’s travel digital publishing, and the author of more than 10 books. He is also a committed hand sewer since childhood, with an interest in textiles.
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Contribute to this newsletter
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We love sharing news from our members. To contribute to our next newsletter, please email all the relevant details to info@wafta.com.au
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The Western Australian Fibre & Textile Association is an interdisciplinary textile and fibre arts collective for creatives who have a passion for innovation, craftsmanship, knowledge and networking with like-minded people.
In recent years WAFTA has seen a significant increase in member participation. The current membership includes art educators, professional textile artists with formal art training, recent textile graduates, as well as makers who have developed their skills and expertise over many years of working with fibre and textiles. The passion, enthusiasm, and talent of the growing membership reflects the interest in and appreciation of fibre and textiles in the community.
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© Copyright 2025 The Western Australian Fibre and Textile Association Incorporated
ABN: 95727279428
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