Falling into a new rhythm with the new season

Amanda Onchulenko, work in progress, detail

Processing... the work of Art. I love diving in and exploring relationships that evolve through experimentation and play. What's your process? How do textiles resonate for you in your studio practice? We would LOVE to hear from you and learn about your unique process.

Articulation's, "Out of the Studio: Process" was mounted this fall at the Sherven-Smith Art Gallery in the Kerry Vicker Centre, Melfort, SK. Our combined thanks extend to Leann Clifford who undertook the mounting of the show on our behalf. Stay tuned for a subsequent blog post detailing all things Process from Leann's perspective.

Amanda Onchulenko, "New Perspectives", detail 

"New Perspectives" by Amanda Onchulenko is part of Articulation's "Connected Heritage" work that remains on display at the Sidney Museum. Should you find yourself in the area please do drop in to see the work based on Articulation's study trip to Manitoba's Interlake and the Icelandic community founded in Gimli, Manitoba, on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. "Connected Heritage" will be on display through December 27, 2021.

Lesley Turner, "Origins 2", work in progress

Lesley Turner's work "Origins" is made up of three pieces that "together tell the story of how when people move from one place to another they take with them their genetic makeup that is then passed on to future generations. People also carry with them their material culture which is kept alive by future makers who learn the skills required to reproduce and innovate their "things" as distinct identifiers of their heritage".

Lesley Turner, "Origins 2", work in progress

 Using the distinctive woolen Icelandic sweater construction technique with its patterned circular yoke, Lesley used 5 needles to hand knit a circle mimicking the pattern seen in the iris. Lesley explains, " I knit 2 circles, one light blue, the other green, to represent the 2 most common eye colours found in the Icelandic population. Each knitted circle was washed, blocked, and had the loose ends invisibly woven in."

Lesley Turner, "Origins 3"

Each knitted iris was then mounted onto a vintage bed sheet ground using invisible stitching. These two hand-knit works tell the story of the origins of the Icelandic Canadians who continue to celebrate their cultural and familial connections with the place they left generations ago.

 Wendy Klotz, "My world is falling apart", for an exhibition called, "Unravelled"

Wendy Klotz writes, " With COVID, climate change and polarized politics, I sometimes feel like my world is falling apart. It is time for us to get to work mending it, as women have always done, small piece by small piece. I am using a Japanese-based mending technique called "Boro" using small scraps of fabric to mend and make a new piece - traditionally used for clothing." 

When I inquired further into Wendy's process my thoughts landed on colour. Wendy elaborated: "Re colour choices, I thought originally I might do different continents in Olympic ring colours but then decided to go with my gut feelings and what scraps I had available. Africa is red for heat, Europe green for more planet-friendly policies in general. North America purple, a mixture of red and blue for political parties in the US and Canada." 

The new season brings with it a new focus as we dig out our sweaters and find the match to 'those socks that fit so well with our favourite fall boots. In Manitoba, we went from unseasonal 30-degree temps in October to a risk of frost virtually overnight. With cooler weather comes reflection on another great Canadian Summer and thoughts of the potential new bodies of work in textiles to come.

Summer days and foliage are behind us for another year. Mandart pillow, "Faith" at rest.

Articulation Textile Group's annual practice of research/study sessions in designated Canadian cities and landscapes was brought to a halt with Covid-19. Like people everywhere our paradigms shifted and we have had to pivot, create new schedules for our creative processes, and manage new ways of connecting. If you are like us you are looking forward to the human connection in the presence of friends, family, and colleagues. It will be great to restart routines. Amanda says, "travel is one of my passions and I was excited to join my husband on a work trip to Montreal. Even though I was not in the company of my Articulation colleagues, I did find myself in galleries taking in the work of creatives, some of whom incorporate textiles in their work like this hand stitched silk detail in the work of Rogelio Manza."

Rogelio Manza, "Ela in Water", detail, Gallery La Royer, Montreal

"My recent work with text, journaling, and thoughts inscribed into fabric using batik had me appreciating the work of Landon Mackenzie whose use of handwritten/painted text similarly become the motif. See the detail below.

 Landon Mackenzie, detail

As the new season evolves we hope you are settling into new routines and are able to schedule some time for your creative pursuits. Hands-on activities are a great antidote to the stressors of the past 18 months and the uncertainty we have together faced.  Stay well and stay creative. 

Amanda Onchulenko on behalf of Articulation Textile Group.