Friday, October 19, 2012

Patterns have something to teach us

Woven houndstooth scarf by Mimma Draga. Woven on her newly acquired Ashford Knitters Loom.
Each weaving class particpant, with the struggles and challenges they face, inpsires me to write this blog. In each of their small steps forward and occasional impasses, I see my own experiences mirrored. Through their fears, uncertainties, lack of confidence in one's abilitites, self criticalness, they teach me to be more comfortable with these visitors when they enter into my own thoughts. Because I witness your journey, I am able to have more understanding as you wrestle with your weaving demons, trials and tribulations.

Over the last few years I have been working steadily and in a  disciplined and focused way. Bit by bit, because of this rigourous schedule that I have maintained, I began losing touch with the joy that I once had in being a textile designer, weaver and fibre artist. It was becoming more and more of a task, items checked off a to do list - until somehow all my enthusiasm and joy got buried beneath this over controlling critical task master inside my head, all while I was nurturing the joy and enthusiasm of others. From this period of maintaining a rigid practice emerged a critical and harsh voice - in regarding my work, divorcing me more and more from the joy and pleasure the weaving activity once provided me, until I found myself in somewhat of a rut. Students sharing their own frustrations with me helped me to work this through, and made me revisit these smothering, diabolical  patterns of thoughts and beliefs that reside mostly inside our heads and are for the most part, completely untrue and unfounded. In my own practice, I felt I came to a complete standstill and needed to break my very structured routine.

Marion Kirkwood and Louise her sister visiting from B.C are modelling two 'ruanas' or capes handwoven by Marion a number of years ago. I was glad to see in my wandering through the mall that the handwoven look is back in style and so are poncho and capes.

I decided to go to the mall and visit clothing stores, so completely not what I would venture to do. After about an hour of looking and being unmoved by what I saw, things took a turn. Suddenly there appeared a fabulous coat that looked jacquard woven. Like a gyser, my enthusiasm returned full force and as I stood dead in my tracks, mesmerized by the fabric of this coat, I once again reconnected with the power and effect that textiles and fibres have upon our senses, how we are irresistably drawn to them, the range of emotions that they can arouse in us, somehow such a deep part of our psyche, our collective conscious. It was wonderful to feel that thrill again. The thrill that I get from textiles. It reminded of the first time a piece of fabric really mesmerized me. I remember where I was. How old I was. Who was wearing it, and that it was a Coco Channel type suit. I realized that our love for textiles is passed down through the generations, as Neil Brochu also shared with me how his own love of linen was hatched.

Neil Brochu wove this 9 foot linen tablecloth with a 20/2 linen. He took the pattern from Dorothy Burnham's book Keep me Warm One Night, a well regarded publication on woven textiles in Ontario. The picture does it no justice. The feel is wonderful, the pattern mesmerizing.

If you are feeling unhappy about your weaving practice, make an effort to (re)connect with the joy and pleasure you feel in touching the fibres, in preparing them for your project, in weaving them, the textures, the colours, shapes, patterns, in looking at them,  and if that self critical voice is stealing your joy, tell it to go away. Susan Abrams reminded this week of what Gayle Sheldon, a former tapestry weaving student said: " I'm working on having a better relationship with myself". If you are kinder in your beliefs about yourself, you'll enjoy the process much more and you will be far more creative and productive.

Write me your stories about the first textile that had an impact on you if you'd like me to share them with others on this blog.




Thursday, October 11, 2012

Weaving as Pattern, Weaving as Canvas

Overshot Scarf by Wendy Szpindel
This week, one of the students in the weaving class said she was a pattern person. Her mind grasped pattern quickly and easily. In terms of weavers, this is an aptitude that many share. As a little girl, while in class, when teaching was still a socratic endeavour and one listened quietly, I would doodle endlessly. What I found myself creating were patterns, repetitions of lines, in various configurations, lengths and thicknesses.  This seemed to fascinate me endlessly. Although I didn't realize it at the time  these same patterns were patterns I recognize today as weave structures such as twills.
Carla Duncan modelling scarf woven at home but the warp was created in our spring Painted warp workshop.

In contrast to that,  I have also approached my weaving as a canvas, and observe that others do as well. Slowly the project evolves, first the warp, then the weft threads - what colours to use, what yarns,  what other embellishments and the weave structure itself seems to be less significant. The project evolves slowly, sometimes over weeks, months, even years. In this blog I'm featuring projects that are examples of each approach, and even a combination of the two.
This particular scarf is a wonderful example of weaving as canvas. Carla decided spontaneously to try some shibori techniques on her handwoven white scarf and dip it in the remains of what was previously a green dye. The green pigments were exhausted and a blue turquoise colour remained.

This shawl was one that gave Carla many headaches and was definitely one of those projects from hell! Every now and then one encounters them as a weaver. The colour nor the finished effect was what Carla had in mind but it ended up being something that she had not expected. The light green lines are extremely effective. Although I am unable to demonstrate this to you on the blog, at certain angles, one cannot see the light coloured strips and the entire cloth seems to be the darker green. It's almost irridescent. In addition, being new at using Procion MX dyes, and trying to do it on her own before she took the Painted Warp Dye workshop, she didn't get the colour she was aiming for. All of Carla's weavings shown here are tencel, a wood pulp based rayon.

Fibre Exhibitions
Some of my tapestries will be on exhibit at the World of Threads Festival/Exhibitions. The link below will show you the location of the exhibit I will be participating in. The opening reception will take place November 3 Saturday 2-5pm and hope you will join me.
http://www.worldofthreadsfestival.com/exhibitions_pages/2012_oakville/common_thread/qep_halls_2012.html
2D - 3D Exhibition by Philippa Brock
A vernissage will be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:00 pmMontreal, October 9, 2012 - From October 24th to November 30th, 2012, la galerie TRAMES will be hosting 2D - 3D, an exhibition of the English artist and textile designer, Philippa Brock.

Inspired by folding techniques, 2D - 3D brings together a selection of Philippa Brock's experimental projects composed of textiles produced on a Jacquard loom. Brock's research deals with the structural possibilities of textiles. In her work, she is constantly pushing back the limits of what can be realized with state-of-the-art computer equipment and a combination of unusual materials. In this exhibition, the first part Self Fold presents works that are richly textured with spectacular three-dimensional effects. The second part, X-Form, developed specifically for this event, explores folding of materials while integrating fibres that react to daylight or to ultra-violet light.

Philippa Brock is internationally known for her advanced research in Jacquard weaving. Since 1990, her work specializes woven textiles as well as research and development of smart textiles. She is the
Woven Textiles Pathway Leader at Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London, one of the most innovative and prestigious textile schools in the world. She will take advantage of her trip to Montreal to offer a master class to textile professionals.

Prior to the vernissage at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, October 24, Philippa Brock will
give a conference on her work. The number of places are limited. Please reserve at communications@textiles-mtl.com
La galerie TRAMES is open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is free.

Centre des textiles contemporains de Montréal /
Montreal Centre for Contemporary textiles
5800 St-Denis bureau 501
Montréal (Québec
 
The American Tapestry Alliance has its biannual tapestry show. The link will give you all the details.
 
Kate Kitchen, a tapestry weaver in our class will be participating in a group Miniature Show at 337 Sketch Gallery in Hamilton. October 12-29. Opening reception October 11 7-9pm. Kate also has a miniature tapestry as part of the Pacific Portals, an unjuried show of the American Tapestry Alliance. She left a beautiful colour catalogue with the weaving class and therein you will find plenty to inspire you.
 
Resources and other info
Maureen Krinicic sends us this great YouTube video about a quick and efficient way of preparing strips for rag rugs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C3mQEEmPsA

Marion Kirkwood sends us a poem a friend sent her about weaving:

At the Loom

You sit at the loom,
your hands raised
like silhouetted birds,
or like a harpist poised
at the strings of an instrument
whose chords are colors,
their slow accumulation,
thread by thread
kind of blending upward
the way the sky blends
from the horizon up
after certain sunsets.
Monk's belt and rosepath ...
plainweave and twill ...
The shuttle moves back
and forth, trailing
its wake of yarn
as if by accident,
and patterns that seem
random at first multiply
into beauty.
No wonder Penelope burned
with patience. ,
Somewhere a sheep bleats
in the night, a silkworm
stirs in its cocoon.
You weave a spell,
I wear it on my back,
and though the chilly stars
go bone naked
we are clothed.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Weaving and Compassion


Dyed warps by Wendy Hayden
The theme of Craft and Compassion in a recent issue of Hand/Eye magazine turned my thoughts  to Ghandi. He wasn't just an inspiration as a leader, but as a person.  His decision to lead in a nonviolent and  non aggressive manner is inspiring and, with the state of the world as it is, and the ever widening mores of our times, I find that to lead ones life that way takes an extraordinary amount of courage. To choose not to strike, whether physically or verbally, when one feels another has wronged you, is not an act of cowardice, but an act of defiance and bravery. Within it the hope that you and I and all of us can communicate with each other in a way that shows regard for each other, and find ourselves in situations where we feel included, not excluded; respected not rejected, embraced, not disgraced, supported, not discouraged. Ghandi spent much of his life trying to free India from the domination of the British. It is a struggle that still plays out in our own ordinary and everyday lives: countries, corporations and organizations try to dominate, control, coerce simply to sustain the illusion of supremacy, superiority, authority through submission, humiliation and surrender. So much of our world is about power over others, and not about empowering others and helping others to empower themselves. More and more, people are finding the courage and the compassion to live a life that brings well being to their spirit, soul, body, and heart, as well as to others.  This blog is about celebrating that, and making the world a better place for others, and not just oneself. Below a link to the magazine:
Hand Eye Magazine on Craft and Compassion:

Dyed warp by Wendy Hayden

Speaking of compassion, there are a number of people registered in the weaving class that are involved in activities that improve the quality of life for others and empowers them. Barb Aikman, is a Master Spinner, presently taking  classes at the Toronto Weaving School, and she assists 'homeless' women with assorted issues, to weave products that will then be sold. All proceeds for these products go directly to the women who are weaving them. Go to the www.sistering.org website to learn more about this amazing organziation. It brings to mind the saying by Ghandi "Be the change you want to see in the world".

Kathy Fletcher who has been taking our weaving classes volunteers at Peace Ranch. To learn more about the organization go to http://www.peaceranch.com/.  "My life is my message." (Ghandi)

Dyed warps by Wendy Hayden.
In the spring, we learned how to dye yarns using procion dyes. These kinds of dyes are good for plant fibres such as rayon, bamboo, soy, tencel and cotton. I'm planning to offer you the opportunity to participate in other dye workshops over the course of time. We'll have guest instructors and it may be at different location than where we usually have the weaving classes.

 
 
 
I met a number of weavers over the course of the summer, and two of the weavers I met were Christine Shipley and Ann Harrison. Christine teaches weaving in Scarborough at Cedar Ridge through the City of Toronto Parks and Recreation programs. She will be part of a group show at Cedar Ridge and here is the invitation.
Christine showed me this odd 'tool' that she found packed into this mailing tube. The post mark reads 1948. The item was sent from Peter Collingwood to a Mrs. A. H. Crighton in Pickering. She was in her time, considered to be a Master Weaver and when she died her husband, Arthur, started weaving too. When his time came to pass, he had made arrangements to leave all his equipment to the Treadle Trompers in Markham. None of us are 100% sure what the tool was used for and it certainly looks like anyone could have made one from a coat hanger, but I wager Christine could a pretty penny for this historical weaving item on ebay (USA)!
 
From past and present students:
 
Laura Dymock sends us this YouTube video on a Navajo Ute First Phase Blanket
 
Velma Devine from Aurora, herself a masterful spinner, weaver and knitter, sent me this info of small producers of specialty fibres:
cottage craft angora
Muskox & Buffalo yarns
368 rang 14, Adstock
Quebec, Canada
G0N 1S0
418-422 2308 & 422-5708
www.cottagecraftangora.com

Sericin Silkworks
124 Erb St. W.
Waterloo, Ontario
N2L 1T5
Donna Kim from Edge of Your Seat was enthralled by this music she heard on CBC radio - "Affairs of the Heart" by Marjan Mozetich
www.music.cbc.ca/play/artist/Marjan-Mozetich/AFFAIRS-OF-THE-HEART-CONCERTO

Neil Brochu was inspired by these weaving links: