Articulation Textile Group

Had a chance to speak with Dawn Rudman just before the opening of "Quiet Zone" at Queen Elizabeth Park Centre.  I asked what her criteria was for artists applying for the exhibition and she said there wasn't any specifically.  It was when she started receiving the work that she was made aware of the similarities between each work, and that was the soft, calm, quiet approach that was taken by each artist.  It was only then that Dawn named the exhibition, "Quiet Zone". There is no doubt that the exhibition gives you a sense of serenity and calmness.  No loud or brash colours pervade the exhibition.  It's a refreshing visual pause in the whole exhibition of The World of Threads. Here are three of my favourite works in the exhibition.  I chose them for their quiet simplicity and subtleness. Vestige 1 Kelly O'Neill, Ontario       Washi paper, thread, ink, charcoal, smocking Trinity Judy Martin, Manitoulin Island, ON       Repurposed domestic da

I really enjoyed my visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario.  It was quite a rabbit warren of different rooms but the diversity of its collection was quite amazing.  Luckily the exhibition about Frida Kahlo and  Diego Rivera was going on. The exhibition had over 80 paintings and 60 photographs and it was interesting to compare their artwork, the first time I believe that they have been shown together. Theirs was a passionate relationship wrapped up in revolution and betrayal. They divorced at one time over Diego's affair with Frida's sister, but they remarried again.  It was so interesting to see the work they were doing during the same time period with their similarities and differences. I spent quite a long time in the area containing the Group of Seven work.  It was wonderful to be able to get up really close to the work without barriers in the way.  You could see the texture of the paint and the way it was applied.  The Group of Seven were really prolific when you think of

During Articulation's visit to Toronto this November the members spent many hours at the Royal Ontario Museum. One of the delights was getting up close to El Anatsui's Straying Continents. A metal tapestry commissioned by the ROM in 2010. El Anatsui continues to use his signature flattened  liquor bottle tops but this work has large areas of the tops cut into lengths twisted together. As a result this work is more likely than his others to alter it's shape while hanging on the wall. 

Our co-exhibitors The Material Girls have been getting lots of press with our show. Here is a wonderful article published in WORKBOX magazine about the exhibit...

Show #2 in the United Kingdom is coming up. Next weekend features a textile event in Horndon on the Hill, Essex . Their poster for the event... This is the continuation of the a joint venture between Articulation (Canadian textile group) and Material Girls (UK textile group) upon iconic waterways in their respective countries - the Bay of Fundy in Canada, and the River Thames in England. This show will travel the UK in 2012 and move to various locations across Canada in 2013 and 2014.

The WOMEN OF FIBRE exhibit at the Whyte Museum opened on November 26 and continues until January 29th in Banff, Alberta. Write ups and photographs from the opening can be found on Lesley Turner and Donna Clement 's blogs. Click on their names for the links to the sites. Here is photo of the six particpating artists who were in town for the opening event:

Our main focus was the Fundy shore line but a couple times we travelled in land. An afternoon in Fredericton seem to spark some conversation on the street. Gloria, Lesley, Leanne, & Donna

We decided to take a side trip off the beaten path to spend a few hours at Cape de Or. It was picture perfect and the winds were amazing.

It seems so long ago when we were all together on the Fundy shoreline. The fall came ,winter blew in, took for every to blow out but it does look like spring has arrived and the group has been dedicated as ever to their art. Lots of things have been happening over the last few months. The big news is that 6 of the members will be exhibiting at the Whyte in the fall of this year and the whole group has been invited to exhibit with the Material Girls in London England with work based on the Bay of Fundy. The Material Girls will be basing their work on the Thames River and the title of the exhibit is Articulated Materials - Bridging Waters. The first exhibit is schedule for Feb 2012 in London England .The work will exhibit in Canada at a later date. So......the yearly retreat took place September 2010. Everyone arrived in Moncton NB (at different times but on the same day) A late night snack of Sea food chowder First day out Joggins Nova Scotia to see the Fossil Cliffs a UNESCO Wor

This video was just released of the show. Two of the Articulation artists, Lesley Turner and Ingrid Lincoln, that were present at the opening to talk about the exhibit.