Thursday, May 27, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Catch up
My goodness, three weeks since the last post!
The Arty Bra night out was a great success and a lot of fun. It was very hard to photograph the "models" as some moved very fast with intricate dance steps, somersaults, leaps, etc. so excuse the blurry photo.
Another night planned for next year and I have ideas for more interactive creations!
Exhibition work is coming along. The Tauranga Spinners and Weavers Exhibition is set up this coming Wednesday and the Opening on Thursday. Article in a local paper says "Renowned NZ weaver Dianne Dudfield is the featured artist .... ". I would have described myself as Fibre Artist as quite a few of my exhibits are knitted and one crochet as well as the weaving and, of course, most are hand dyed. I have learned that the dummies for my display are white so I've been busy making black skirts to dress them as this shows off the weaving better.
I got rather antsy at the focus, focus, focus needed to put together an exhibition so have been side tracked into exploring some echo weave structure.
This one I called Tradewind, its a beige and deep grey warp with black weft scarf. Grey and black are cotton and the beige is ramie which I thought was a crap yarn but on googling I find its made from nettle and much valued in China. Sett at 48 tpi which I think is about as fine as I've ever threaded and surprise, its no different to a looser sett, one just doesn't see the progress as quickly. This wasn't what I was planning to do so rethreaded to this.
More like ripply water. The warp is merino wool 74/2 (about 42 wraps per inch) which all the literature says is a no no for echo weave. I wound skeins and dyed them then, as I unwound the skeins to balls, I ran it through wax and it has woven with no problems at 36 epi. The weft is a singles silk which my daughter got for me from the Kyoto Museum shop a few years ago. On the right of the blue stripe you can see the dark echo and to the left a paler echo. This is a warp dominant weave and the weft is hardly seen being squished between the warp threads.
Must get back to the skirt creating and labelling and CV writing ... and its such a lovely sunny day after a week of bluck that a beach walk is called for.
The Arty Bra night out was a great success and a lot of fun. It was very hard to photograph the "models" as some moved very fast with intricate dance steps, somersaults, leaps, etc. so excuse the blurry photo.
Exhibition work is coming along. The Tauranga Spinners and Weavers Exhibition is set up this coming Wednesday and the Opening on Thursday. Article in a local paper says "Renowned NZ weaver Dianne Dudfield is the featured artist .... ". I would have described myself as Fibre Artist as quite a few of my exhibits are knitted and one crochet as well as the weaving and, of course, most are hand dyed. I have learned that the dummies for my display are white so I've been busy making black skirts to dress them as this shows off the weaving better.
I got rather antsy at the focus, focus, focus needed to put together an exhibition so have been side tracked into exploring some echo weave structure.
More like ripply water. The warp is merino wool 74/2 (about 42 wraps per inch) which all the literature says is a no no for echo weave. I wound skeins and dyed them then, as I unwound the skeins to balls, I ran it through wax and it has woven with no problems at 36 epi. The weft is a singles silk which my daughter got for me from the Kyoto Museum shop a few years ago. On the right of the blue stripe you can see the dark echo and to the left a paler echo. This is a warp dominant weave and the weft is hardly seen being squished between the warp threads.
Must get back to the skirt creating and labelling and CV writing ... and its such a lovely sunny day after a week of bluck that a beach walk is called for.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
What makes an exhibition?
A friend (April 27 Taking a Stand) has started a conversation about work for exhibitions so thought I would add my tuppence worth (though it might come back to bite me in a few weeks time).
An exhibition piece should be an example of your best work, a very special work. An exhibition offers the opportunity to push the limits, push boundaries, try new techniques and colour combinations. It should be recently made but I don't have a problem with the same work being displayed multiple times so long as the audience will be different. For instance, in my present case, I imagine the audience at Tauranga Spinners and Weavers Exhibition will be quite different from those viewing my work at Inspirit Gallery, Hamilton. The work should be fun to create and look at, it should have creative magic or tell a story whether happy or tragic.
It should not be churned out with the purpose of filling a hall. An exhibition should allow space for each piece to be viewed with the appreciation it deserves. Every inch of every display board does not have to be filled. I know an artist who deliberately puts wide frames on her tapestries so they can't be crowded out.
A little self critiquing could help. Does this piece have wow factor, was it made with passion? The artist usually knows when they have made a really great work - that's the piece to submit for exhibition.
An exhibition piece should be an example of your best work, a very special work. An exhibition offers the opportunity to push the limits, push boundaries, try new techniques and colour combinations. It should be recently made but I don't have a problem with the same work being displayed multiple times so long as the audience will be different. For instance, in my present case, I imagine the audience at Tauranga Spinners and Weavers Exhibition will be quite different from those viewing my work at Inspirit Gallery, Hamilton. The work should be fun to create and look at, it should have creative magic or tell a story whether happy or tragic.
It should not be churned out with the purpose of filling a hall. An exhibition should allow space for each piece to be viewed with the appreciation it deserves. Every inch of every display board does not have to be filled. I know an artist who deliberately puts wide frames on her tapestries so they can't be crowded out.
A little self critiquing could help. Does this piece have wow factor, was it made with passion? The artist usually knows when they have made a really great work - that's the piece to submit for exhibition.
Bra Art
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Coco
Saw a great DVD last night of Coco Chanel by Anne Fontaine starring Audrey Taurou, just beautiful viewing. It is subtitled and so captivating I couldn't figure my knitting to do it while watching. I must be getting old!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Two for the price of one
One scarf is for a friend's Mum's friend but its not worth putting on a warp for one scarf so she can have a choice of bright red or ruby red - doesn't show up very well in the photo.
That's all the orders filled and can now concentrate on exhibition work.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Panic attack
Woke this morning having a panic attack about the lack of anything getting done or finished for exhibition and the house looking like a tip. Decided I wasn't getting anywhere lying in bed worrying so got up and with cup of tea to hand did the two baskets of ironing while watching the sun rise over the Pacific. What's not to enjoy?
Have now drawn up a calendar for myself to July 2, Opening at Inspirit. I have 5 and 1/2 weeks till Tauranga opening and about 11 weeks till Inspirit. Some Inspirit work must be framed/mounted by 1 June for photographing for advertising. Have made a big decision to name the Inspirit exhibition "Low Tide" having gone from a working title of "water", its talking to me. I also need to take time off to go to Auckland to see my kids so 5 1/2 weeks will be reduced.
One reason for the panic this morning was that some time ago I opened my mouth (wide) and gave a speal about exhibition versus sale of work and how only ones best work should be submitted for exhibition and how it was better to have a few really well made pieces than a room full of mediocre things etc. I don't feel I have given my best to Tauranga yet but there is still time.
Have now drawn up a calendar for myself to July 2, Opening at Inspirit. I have 5 and 1/2 weeks till Tauranga opening and about 11 weeks till Inspirit. Some Inspirit work must be framed/mounted by 1 June for photographing for advertising. Have made a big decision to name the Inspirit exhibition "Low Tide" having gone from a working title of "water", its talking to me. I also need to take time off to go to Auckland to see my kids so 5 1/2 weeks will be reduced.
One reason for the panic this morning was that some time ago I opened my mouth (wide) and gave a speal about exhibition versus sale of work and how only ones best work should be submitted for exhibition and how it was better to have a few really well made pieces than a room full of mediocre things etc. I don't feel I have given my best to Tauranga yet but there is still time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
