October 2009

"Eco Colour Odyssey"

This exhibition features pieces created using ecologically sustainable plant-dye methods. Several textile artists have joined together to present the results of their on-going fascination with the beauty found within this botanical alchemy .
It has come about as a result of the exhibitors participating in Eco Colour workshops held in Nelson earlier this year with Australian international textile artist India Flint. India describes Eco Colour as "botanical alchemy.........ecologically sustainable plant-dye methods using renewable resources and attempts to take the path of doing the least possible harm to the dyer, the end user of the object, and the environment".
The works in this exhibition are the results of our ongoing fascination with this botanical alchemy' and a desire to show that 'green' textile arts can come in a spectacular range of colours and beautiful effects. The beauty of using this method of working is not just in the end results but in the processes as well. Many of the pieces involve working with found objects, recycled materials, natural ingredients and basic equipment, so it literally doesnt cost the earth! Some of the processes used to create the piece in this exhibition include making dyes from frozen flowers, 'printing' plant materials directly on to fabric and creating dye baths with heat extraction methods. The number of ways these processes are then incorporated into the finished article is as varied and diverse as the textile artists in the show.
October 2009

The artists who have created this month's Exhibition are: Jo Kinross Sharron Martin Colleen Plant Sue Haydon Beryl Allain Chris McGuigan Helen Grant Ronnie Martin	Chris McGuigan is a multimedia artist working from her studio Heart Gallery here in Nelson. She enjoys taking ordinary and everyday stuff and turning it into something that has a little magic.
Eco Dyed Lambskin Top >>> by Chris McGuigan $300.00 Merino Wool, Silk, Bamboo and Cotton embroidery threads plus traces of manmade fibre embellishments. Pure NZ Merino wool base embellished with silk puffs, sparkling lamé, threads of silk, cotton and bamboo and wrapped with leaves of eucalyptus, geranium and a host of windfall treasures has then been dipped and dyed in a boiling cauldron of onion skins. Little secrets became visible after the package is unwrapped where nuts and bolts and stones had been stowed, marks appear that reveal the shape of the object, bright orange leaf shapes from the eucalyptus leaves and on the silk sash at the neckline, lavender fronds and pale red geranium petals have left delicate lines that trace the history in the making of this garment. >>>
Title: 'Eucalypt' by Beryl Allain $180 This piece represents the trunk of a Eucalyptus tree. The earthy tones were obtained by boiling various distressed materials in a solution of water and Eucalyptus leaves for hours over an open fire. Layering and stitching pieces together emulates the peeling bark and falling leaves that the Eucalyptus is so known for.	<<< Beryl Allain's comments: 'I am predominately a felt maker. Felt is so versatile and can convey many different moods. It can he hard or soft, detailed or simple, vibrant or calming, manipulated or stitched and sculpted, in fact the possibilities are endless. I like to start with the raw fleece, this allows me to be part of the whole process of meta-morphasising natural fibre into a living piece of cloth. Hand dying gives me a random control over the colours produced. Fleeces from different breeds produce unique results. The process of making felt is very much 'hands on' and labour intensive. One has a certain amount of control combined with a randomness. This is very exciting as one can never be sure what the result will be. Felt making is addictive. I am ensnared by it. All the designs are taken from what I see around me. I work these up in my sketch books until I arrive at something that pleases me. The design will influence what type of fleece to choose and what form the piece may take.'
Ronnie Martin "Ancient Journey" $180.00 >>> This vest is an exploration of ancient landforms and geographical markings. I have used stitch as the linking lines between the paths of my journey. Materials: Felt, silk, cotton, organza, recycled lace, and stone beads.
	<<< Helen Grant 'Tracks' $154.00 Wool, Silk, and Stitching, eco dyed 610 x 800
	Susan Heydon Boxes - Jacket - Shawl The boxes are the result of my fascination with the process of Eco Dyeing realised after attending India's workshops. 1. Ice flower and Heated dyed samples using Red Cabbage, Beetroot and Pansies $100.00 <<<
2. Wooden box with selection of handmade paper and heated dyed cloth samples exploring the plant materials in my garden including oxalis! $120.00 >>>
^^3. Heated Samples from various sources including remains of red onion used to make chicken soup, dried herbs, green tea, and turmeric! $200.00	^^^4. Pushing a Few Boundaries... Handmade paper using plant material and colours resulting from my heated dyeing exploration.
5. Reclaimed Hemp and Cotton Jacket and Dress resulting from India's workshops $400.00	6. Felted StItched and Dyed Shawl. $500.00
Sharron Martin Windfall Magic A random selection of windfall leaves were arranged in rows inside a length of white silk that was then rolled around a piece of woody flax. String and rubber bands were used to tightly cover and secure both ends of the silk bundle, as well as regular intervals in the middle. The wrapped & secured silk bundle was boiled in an enamelled iron pot with purple ake ake leaves and some rusty iron for several hours, removed, slowly dried, then finally unwrapped after several weeks. The support backing for the silk is made with muslin, pre-felt, cellulose glue, banana and silk fibre, cotton threads, sequins and beads. I have been an art teacher for 25 years and have always had a love affair with fabrics and colour... I am now enjoying playing and discovering with eco printing and dyeing knowing that the outcome is usually unpredictable, often surprising, and quite magical!	Colleen Plank 'Island Time' $200 Revisiting the magic of natural plant dyes and the surprises it offers helps to loosen up the creative spirit. Creating patterns with shells, making paper with fibres and plants all remind me of Island Time ...slowly, slowly. Materials used include silk organza,plant-dyed homemade paper, hawthorn and silk thread.
	A 'must-see' exhibition
	Jo Kinross Jo has had a passion for textiles all her life. She can still remember the joy as a child of playing amongst hundreds of sample swatches from her grandfather's textile importing business. Later she had her own treasure trove in the form of a yarn & knitwear shop in Melbourne. After a long search, Eco Colour has finally given her the vehicle for her creative expression. 1. Ferns.. Leaf Print of various ferns in a choisya ternata dye bath on habotai silk. 40 x 160 $150 2. Spring.. Ice flower prints in Pansy dye bath on habotai silk 40 x 160 $150 3. Pseudo Ikat Print of Pseudopanax arboreus berries in choisya ternata dye bath on dupioni silk 23 x 135 $150 <<<
2 Scarves by Jo Kinross each $70 >>>