Fibre & Fabric FusionsMarch 30 – April 27, 2024 |
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WEST GALLERY
Patti Cook
Scrum Sisters Studio Patti lives to make art and now that she is fully retired she is devoted to spending time in her studio creating and exploring with her various mediums. Her love of “all things art” is strongly based on her upbringing, which was surrounded in both domestic crafts and the traditional arts. She works to portray her innate thoughts regarding her philosophical, spiritual or worldly expressions, her love of nature...and at other times, just for the pure joy of creating. Patti's education in the Arts has accumulated over a 40+ year time frame. Although considered self taught, she has attended a multitude of workshops over the years in both mixed media trends and the traditional arts. She had the good fortune of participating in workshops under the tutelage of two of her favourite influencers in the world of watercolour: Jeanne Dobie and the late Zoltan Szabo as well as many acrylic masters too numerous to mention. She especially enjoys painted collage as it provides her with another medium to utilize in her expressions. Patti has expanded and combined her skills in recent years using wool fibres and other natural fibres to create 2D and 3D artworks. She continues to push the envelope with this amazing medium, to explore where it takes her and as a result she has received 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, awards of merit and honourable mentions with her most recent 2nd place award with a collage using textile, paint and embellishments. Patti has also enjoyed sharing her expertise for the past 10 years teaching in house, as well as employed by Gallery in the Grove's VALS program and JNAAG's TNT and RAWS programs. Website: patticook.ca Instagram: (@pateogram) Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Scrum.Sisters.Studio My Thoughts about My Work For This Exhibit Working with fibre has been a life long experience. Starting with making my own doll clothes as a very young girl to sewing my own clothes as a teen. From there more challenging projects brought me into the world of quilting and then art quilts. As a veteran lover of watercolour as well, I have always taken a more painterly artistic approach to any of my projects. Just 15 years ago I was introduced to wet felting. Felting itself is considered one of the oldest textiles known to humankind and here I was seeing it for the first time! It has been transformative for me. Its unpredictability, elements of surprise, the potential for problem solving had me hooked. After several (6 so far!) masterclasses from notable felt masters from every country, I have gained even more respect for the medium. Boundless creativity with fabulous results. It's been 15 years since I was first introduced to wet felting and I don't see that ending anytime soon! One of my favourite ways to work with this medium is creating 2D paintings. Using the wool in place of wool and the challenge I present myself with is to create a painting that looks like it's been created by traditional methods. I also use needle felting methods to finish and/or to create a painting with. This exhibition will showcase a peek into my world of using wool and fabric to create pieces that express my love of creating with whatever medium works toward the end goal. I hope you when looking at my work you will feel the sense of the wonder that I feel whenever I am using these wonderful materials! I call it fibre alchemy and it never disapoints! |
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EAST GALLERY Fibre Arts Collective
Simone Vojvodin
Simone Vojvodin has been an artist and maker since childhood, working predominantly in acrylics or pen and ink, when the discovery of a library book depicting hand hooked rugs lured her into the world of punch needle rug hooking. She quickly became dedicated to the craft and is passionate about sharing this exciting art form with others as an Advanced Certified Oxford Instructor who has been teaching punch needle rug hooking since 2011. She loves designing, dyeing her own wool, helping students and punching rugs which have been featured in exhibitions in Canada and U.S.A., published in magazines and books, and have won multiple awards. She is also the author of the book "Mastering the Art of Punch Needle Rug Hooking", as well as many articles on the subject. Simone resides near Dutton, Ontario where she has her studio, Red Maple Ruggery. Artist Statement Simone's handmade punch needle rugs are best described as "paintings in wool” where she playfully explores the juxtaposition of utilitarian floor rugs and fine art. Inspired by her love of nature, her rugs frequently depict her favourite subjects of landscapes and animals, and contain the beauty of the natural sheeps wool that she hand dyes to create her palette. Simone loves to be at her frame where the wool and the rhythm of her punch needle conjure up a connection to by-gone days when rugs were made loop by loop to cherish and last for generations. |
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Cheryl Laakes
“I am fascinated by the ‘small’ world around us...patterns in frost formations, lichen growth, the symmetry of cells and tiny organisms. In my work I aspire to create pieces that recall these patterns around us in nature; a marriage of the organic and geometric. Using various textures, colours, and incredible amounts of detail, my pieces convey richness, depth, and an appreciation for the small joys around us every day." – cL Cheryl has been designing textiles and jewellery for over thirty years. Largely self-taught, she works in a myriad of fibres, semi-precious stones, crystals, and glass. Exploring the boundaries of techniques and adapting methods from other media to create truly unique pieces, Cheryl's work is one of a kind. Versed in techniques from spinning, tatting, embroidery, knitting, crochet, beading, wire working, pottery, clay sculpture, sketching, portraiture, smocking, card-weaving, macramé, polymer clay, batik, sewing, and quilting, Cheryl combines multiple strategies to coalesce into a single work. Often her pieces are the wondrous and functional results of experimenting with colour, texture, and technique combining. |
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Karen Rutledge
Teaching Family Studies in secondary schools reinforced my love of colour, design, textures and sewing. Painting, quilting and rug hooking are my passions. |
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Cydna Kay
Rug hooking is an ancient endeavor with samples of this art form have been found in the pyramids of Egypt. Wealthy people in 19th century Europe began adorning their homes with rugs from the middle east. Those that could not afford to do that began making rugs with strips of left over fabric and wool pulled through burlap backing. These rugs have evolved from being rather primitive in design to sophisticated art forms today. I have used my background as a watercolor painter to choose the design and colour combinations in the pieces I make. Those pieces that will functions as rugs must be make of wool which is a strong and durable fabric. However, pieces that will be hung on walls or draped over tables can be made of whatever material will give the effect needed by the artist. I enjoy extending my creative endeavors between painting and rug hooking. |
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