TALKING HEADS: A CONTEMPORARY TAKE ON HEADDRESSES. CALL FOR ENTRY

SDA BC website - click here
Click on images for a larger view.

CALL FOR ENTRY
Some time ago, a few of our members travelled to the Seattle Art Museum to see an exhibition of Soundsuits by Nick Cave. Click here and here for some websites concerned with his Soundsuits. This is a great YouTube video - many more if you look for them. Our members were blown away by his show, and were particularly inspired by the show's juxtaposition with an exhibition of African masks and headdresses. 

These two exhibitions provided the impetus for our next SDA BC show:

Talking Heads: A Contemporary Take on Headdresses

Call for Submissions:

The North Vancouver Community Arts Council, in partnership with The Surface Design Association, BC, will present Talking Heads, a Contemporary Take on Headdresses, at the Cityscape Community Art Gallery, North Vancouver, from July 26 to Sept 7, 2013. The exhibition opening will be July 25th from 7-9pm.

This juried exhibition will showcase works inspired by historical and/or cultural headdresses. Headdresses, whether practical or ceremonial, have traditionally made a statement about the wearer and their cultural community. Our contemporary take on these historical artifacts will similarly make a statement about ourselves and our own cultural environments, while exploring an exciting diversity of techniques and media, as well as innovative approaches to the theme.

The exhibition is open to fibre artists who are members of the Surface Design Association. Membership information can be found on the SDA website.  

Click on the links for the Call for Submissions, Submission Guidelines, and Entry Form.  

Questions? Contact Jennifer Cooper

CONGRATULATIONS TO YVONNE WAKABAYASHI AND KATHERINE SOUCIE

SDA BC website - click here
Click on images for a larger view.

The following was mostly taken from the University of the Fraser Valley's blog announcement: 

BC SDA member, Yvonne Wakabayashi, is a prominent textile artist who was recently honoured with the (Vancouver) Mayor’s Arts Award for Studio Arts-Craft and design.  The award was presented to her on September 20th, 2012 and was in recognition of the enormous body of work she has created.  Yvonne taught in the University of the Fraser Valley’s fashion design program from 1987 – 2003. 

Image: Yvonne with Mayor Gregor Robertson and the emerging artist she nominated -  SoledadMuñoz

Yvonne’s work is a fusion of her Japanese heritage and ancient techniques combined with modern inspirations and processes. Her creations are the result of methodical planning and creative spontaneity.  Her work has been exhibited worldwide and has been featured in a variety of publications.  

Recently her work was included in the exhibition and book, Shibori Recreated, which was part of the larger event in Sydney, Australia called LoveLace. She has been the recipient of many prizes and awards.

She continues to inspire and encourage up-and-coming artists and students.  Yvonne’s connection to the fashion program continues with topical workshops which she presents to textile students.  

An example of Yvonne’s work is shown below. See her website.

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Katherine Soucie 
recently presented a new Sans Soucie fashion collectionat New York Fashion Week. This is a huge achievement.

This is from the Mens' Fashion Week website:

Katherine Soucie is an artist and designer who studied Fashion Design in London and Toronto before furthering her education in Textiles and Visual Art in Vancouver, Canada. Since 2003, her experimentation with non-traditional materials and textile industry waste has resulted in an extensive body of work for which she has received a numerous scholarships, grants and awards. Her use of traditional artisanal clothing and textile techniques is combined with a zero waste approach has enabled her to design and produce work for film, television, dance and theatre alongside her award winning clothing line, Sans Soucie. Ms. Soucie is a recipient of the BC Creative Achievement Award, 2006, shortlisted for the Niche Award 2007 and received the International Design Green Award for 2008. She is currently a graduate student in the Masters of Applied Art program at Emily Carr University of Art & Design in Vancouver, Canada researching on zero waste art and design practices.

Be sure to look at her website under Collections (Nouveau) and also her Remaker collection. 

Little Green Dress Projekt at Van Dusen Garden

SDA BC website - click here
Click on images for a larger view.

BC SDA member Dawn Russell sent the following information about an exhibition called The Little Green Dress Projekt by Nicole Dextras - part of the Earth Art exhibition which has been on since September 1st at Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, BC. It's on until September 30, so it's not too late to see this.


Nicole's work was featured in an article and on the cover of the spring 2012 issue of Surface Design. She is a resident of Vancouver.  

Nicole Dextras dress made/named for Dawn Russell

This dress was named and made for me by Nicole Dextras from materials I provided to her (see detail pics below).  It was installed on Tuesday, August 28 in the Perennial Garden.   It's made from skeletonized and fresh magnolia leaves, ferns, Chinese chestnuts, black mondo grass.  This is just one of the 21 dresses Nicole made as part of her Little Green Dress Projekt  See her blog for photos and details of each of the dresses and the project's sustainability message. 

Earth Art Photos on VanDusen's Facebook page 

Sep 1 - 30, 2012  VanDusen Botanical Garden, 
5251 Oak St (at 37th), Vancouver 

Earth Art. An exhibition by five internationally-renowned artists: Nils-Udo, Urs P. Twellmann, Chris Booth, Nicole Dextras and Michael Dennis, of large installation earth art sculptures throughout the garden.

View the news release     

                         

Exhibitions in BC - Love Decay Repair, and Progressions

SDA BC website - click here.

Click on images for a larger view.

LOVE DECAY REPAIR - Works by Michelle Sirois-Silver

Curated by Barbara Duncan

Maple Ridge Art Gallery (at The ACT Theatre & Theatre) 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, B.C.

September 8 to October 13, 2012

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 8 from 2pm – 4pm. An afternoon of art & conversation, refreshments and live jazz. RSVP to Barbara Duncan

Gallery Open Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm and select evenings

Michelle's website

Artist Presentations:

Saturday, September 15 from 2pm - 4pm Demo and talk on the rug hooking technique used for work in the exhibition Love Decay Repair.

Saturday, September 29 from 2pm – 3pm Slide presentation and talk about the creative process behind the artist’s latest body of work. Join us for other activities at The ACT on September 29 as we celebrate Canada Culture Day and The ACT’s 10th Anniversary!

The title of the exhibition, Love Decay Repair, draws on inspiration from the botanical world, specifically the hosta plant in its various stages of decomposition. Unlike the plant, however, these works on fibre hold possibilities of repair through layering, stitching and other methods of reinforcement. The resulting works express the vulnerability of nature, the complexity of its systems of self-repair and the beauty to behold in every stage of its life cycle.

Michelle Sirois-Silver is a Vancouver-based fibre artist who designs and hand hooks rugs for the floor and wall. Her most recent work, includes work that is a departure for her - assemblages that explore ways to combine screen printed surfaces with hand and machine stitching.

Sirois-Silver was awarded a development grant from the Surface Design Association for "Love, Decay, and Repair". She teaches workshops, writes, and exhibits her work internationally.
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PROGRESSIONS 

at the Ferry Building in West Vancouver, BC, including work by BC SDA members 

Eleanor Hannan, Anni Hunt, Celia Pickles and Kaija Rautiainen

I only have images for Celia and Anni at the moment - will add more as they arrive.

Websites:

Eleanor Hannan; Anni Hunt; Celia Pickles; Kaija Rautiainen

Ferry Building

Work by Celia Pickles (printing & hand-stitching)

Work by Anni Hunt (2 images above)

Jason Pollen's visit

It's been quite awhile since I posted here - sorry about that! Summertime...


Link to the SDA Newsblog: click here.
LInk to the BCSDA website: click here.


JASON POLLEN, President Emeritus of the Surface Design Association and artist/teacher extraordinaire, visited Vancouver in June of this year. 

Thanks so much to everyone who helped - click on this link to go to our website, where you will find more info on that. 


The picture above shows Jason inside the entrance to Artemis Gallery and Studio in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, which was the venue for the two, two-day workshops he taught. It was a great space with lots of natural light - and excellent coffee/lunch venues right across the street!


We hear that Jason will be in Vancouver again next year, so if you missed the workshops this time, there will be another opportunity. Following are some images taken during the workshops.

Jason and Michelle Sirois-Silver

Jane Kenyon

Jennifer Cooper

Lily Thorne and Patt Wilson

Jason and group critiquing Pat Crucil's work

Art of Fashion pics; Wendy Browne's show; Jason Pollen; upcoming meetings

Click here to view the SDA BC website - with links to members' websites and more.
Click on the images for a larger version.

The Art of Fashion event in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, last weekend, was a huge success. 
Here are a couple of images, sent by Ros Aylmer.










Wendy Browne's new exhibition opens at FibreWorks Gallery in Pender Harbour on Saturday, April 7th, 2012. I had a sneak preview today. It is quite wonderful - a combination of painted and stitched, paper and fabric collages, some quite large and many smaller pieces - all of them framed. Image below shows a detail from one of the larger works.
Positive Fallout runs from April 7th to May 6th, 2012. For more information contact Yvonne at 604-883-2380. FibreWorks' website; Wendy's website.

Jason Pollen is coming to Vancouver! ONE workshop space left!

The Art of Textile Collage

Jason Pollen, a founding member and for many years the President of the Surface Design Association, is coming to Vancouver to teach two, two-day workshops, one on Wed/Thurs, June 20/21 and the second on Sat/Sun, June 23/24, 2012. 

As of April 5th (because of a cancellation), there is one space still available in the workshops. There is a waiting list in case of cancellations. 

There will also be a public lecture on Friday, June 22 – venue tba. 

Click here to email Michelle Sirois-Silver for more information or to put your name on the waiting list for a workshop.

You can learn more about Jason on his website.

Upcoming SDA BC meetings:

Next Sunshine Coast meeting:

April 25, 2012, starting at 11am, at FibreWorks Gallery in Pender Harbour. 

As usual this will include a pot luck lunch. Please contact Pat Crucil by email if you would like more info. 

Next Vancouver meeting:

May 15th, 2012, starting 7pm; at the weaving studio of Hanna Haapasalo and Kaija Rautiainen. Please contact Jennifer by email if you would like more info. 

Next Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands group meeting: Please contact Terri Bibby by email for info.

Jason Pollen in Vancouver; Cherry Blossom Festival; upcoming SDA BC meetings

Click here to view the SDA BC website.


Jason Pollen is coming to Vancouver!

Jason Pollen, a founding member and for many years the President of the Surface Design Association, is coming to Vancouver to teach two, two-day workshops, one on Wed/Thurs, June 20/21 and the second on Sat/Sun, June 23/24, 2012. The workshops are full but there is a waiting list in case of cancellations. There will also be a public lecture on Friday, June 22 – venue tba. Click here to email Michelle Sirois-Silver for more information or to put your name on the waiting list for a workshop.

We are extremely lucky to have this opportunity to learn from Jason, and we must thank Karin Millson, the SDA rep for Alberta, for helping to make this possible. She organized for him to teach in Calgary and we tacked on to that trip. 

Jason was on the faculty of the Royal College of Art in London, Parsons School of Design, and Pratt Institute before serving as chair of the fiber department at Kansas City Art Institute. Jason exhibits his fabric constructions internationally and is widely known for his innovations in surface design. He has designed textiles for dozens of fashion and home furnishings firms and regularly collaborates as scenic designer for the Kansas City Ballet. He was named Fellow by the American Crafts Council in 2006. 

You can learn more about Jason on his website.

Many of our members in SDA BC are participating in the textile art exhibition at the Cherry Blossom Festival - an annual event in Vancouver. We've just had snow in Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast (in April!!!!), but it has now melted away and the cherry trees ARE in bloom.

Upcoming SDA BC meetings:



Next Sunshine Coast meeting:

April 25, 2012, starting at 11am, at FibreWorks Gallery in Pender Harbour. 

As usual this will include a pot luck lunch. Please contact Pat Crucil by email if you would like more info. 



Next Vancouver meeting:

May 15th, 2012, starting 7pm; at the weaving studio of Hanna Haapasalo and Kaija Rautiainen.
Please contact Jennifer by email if you would like more info. 



Next Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands group meeting:
Please contact Terri Bibby by email for info.

The Art of Fashion

The Art of Fashion returns to Deep Cove, North Vancouver, April 1, 2012.

What better way to celebrate spring than to enjoy the colourful art wear and accessories presented by some of Vancouver’s finest artists. Dresses and coats, jackets, vests, sweaters, shawls and hats, bags, and don’t forget the jewelry; these are a few of the wonderful things that will be on display at the Art of Fashion show and sale.

Sponsored by FibreEssence and the committee for Wearable Arts Vancouver, the event will be a fundraiser for the Seymour ArtGallery.  The Art of Fashion will take place at the Seymour as well as at Artemis Studio Gallery, and Cove Creek Gallery, all located on Gallant Avenue in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. The event will run from 2 to 4:30pm on the Sunday afternoon.

There will be a parade of fashions between 2:30 and 3:30, in the Artemis Studio space, and afternoon tea, for $5, will be available at the Seymour.  All items on exhibit will be for sale, with a portion of the proceeds from sales benefiting the Seymour.

These images show wearable art created by Ros Aylmer.

Don’t miss this Grand Spring Event. Fashion, food, and fun will all be on display the afternoon of April 1, in Deep Cove – no fooling! 

Shibori Recreated; Sue Hiley Harris visits BC

Upcoming SDA BC meetings:




Next Sunshine Coast meeting:

March 14th, 2012, starting at 11am, at Dorothy Cross's home in Halfmoon Bay. 

As usual this will include a pot luck lunch. Please contact Jennifer by email if you would like more info.



Next Vancouver meeting:

May 15th, 2012, starting 7pm; at the weaving studio of Hanna Haapasalo and Kaija Rautiainen.

Please contact Jennifer by email if you would like more info.


Next Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands group meeting:

March 1, 2012, 10:30am. Studio G Art, 7298 Somenos Rd, Duncan, BC.  Please contact Terri Bibby by email for more info.

Yvonne Wakabayashi, one of our BC SDA members, has recently been featured in a new book called Shibori Recreated, by Karen Davis.  This book was the result of the Love Lace exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia, still on and perhaps extended. The images below show the book cover and one of the Yvonne's wearable pieces in the exhibition.

You can see a recent preview plus some images from the book here. "Expand" the current issue and look at page 18. Actually if you're into home decor this is quite a good mag.

Click here to link to a larger image of the collage of artists' works. Yvonne's website.

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Australian-Welsh,
Sculpter-Weaver, Sue Hiley Harris visits
the West Coast!

  

Sue Hiley Harris will be visiting us in Vancouver and Salt Spring Island.  To learn more about Sue’s
visit, please click here.
Details about the lectures and workshops are also included below. 




Visit Sue's website to get a flavor of her
work.



Vancouver: The lecture, Ancestor Bags, will take place on February 26th, 2012 at 7.30pm at Kanata Co-op Community Building, 7155 Blake Street in Champlain Heights (close to Boundary and 49th Avenue).
Please see the MAP (a
small contribution might be requested).






The two day string bag workshop
will take place at the same location on Monday Feb 27, and Tuesday Feb 28 from
10am – 4pm   There are still two spaces
left.  The cost of the workshop is $150,
and a deposit of $50 is required to insure your place. Please email Julia Manitius if you wish
to register for the workshop.

  

Saltspring Island: The Saltspring lecture will take
place on Friday evening March 2nd, and the workshop will take place
on Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm. 
There are still a couple of spaces available for the workshop. Please
email Joan Carrigan if you wish to join the
workshop.  Locations for both events will
be posted here.










Sue’s work will be at Julia's shop, Urbanity (in Vancouver) from Tues. Feb 28 – Thurs, March 1st.  




Julia wishes to thank
Sandra Crompton and Joan Carrington for their enthusiasm and help in organizing
the events in Vancouver and Salt Spring
 Island. Updates will be
posted on the Urbanity website here.