Current Issue
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
To keep current with news from Western Australia, visit the WAFTA website: www.wafta.com.au and click on NEWS. This site is regularly updated by the website manager, Lisa Repsevicius. WAFTA stands for Western Australian Fibre and Textile Association and it’s a useful and active group, find out more via the website. On 19th October the speaker is Jo Franco of Rugcrafters Australia. Then on 30/31 October you can take a workshop with Kate Weedon-Jones on creating art fabric with different surface techniques. Nov 16 sees a General Meeting and End-of-Year party with speaker Justine McKnight, Head of Fashion, ECU. All evening (General) meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7pm at Craft House, Clyde Street, Menora.
ATASDA (Australian Textile Art and Surface Design Association) now has a WA Group (formed late in 2009). Regular monthly meetings commenced in February 2010 – the venue is Queens Park Recreation Centre, cnr. Centre St and George St, Queens Park 6107. The time is 1:30-4:30pm on the first Saturday of every month. Entry is $5.00. Each month there is a theme of the day, a demonstration, a talk or a hands-on session. ATASDA WA, PO Box 442, Karrinyup WA 6018.
POSTCARDS FROM AUSTRALIA: Mapping Climates of Change is a textiles and ceramics exhibition to be held at the John Curtin Gallery's Access Gallery, Building 200, Curtin University of Technology, Kent St, Bentley WA, opening on 16 September, 2010 at 6pm and closing on 15 October, 2010. RSVP for the opening is essential: 9266 4155 or gallery@curtin.edu.au The artist exhibitors: Rosalind Bonser, Nancy Lanario, Vicky Small and Virginia Walsh are Open Universities Australia students who met online while studying art by distance education at Curtin University. The artists have collaborated to create four large textile-based wall hangings (approx. 160 x 110cm each) which are presented as 'postcards', representing interpretations of the biodiversity of their individual areas - regional NSW, Perth and Dunsborough WA, and the ACT. Additionally, each artist has created individual works that draw on the historical symbolism of the bowl as vessel. This is the first exhibition of the 2010 Guild on Show Grant program, and the artists gratefully acknowledge the Curtin Student Guild grant of $1,500.00 to hold this exhibition. Further details of the exhibition are available at the base of the John Curtin Gallery's website: http://johncurtingallery.curtin.edu.au/exhibitions/future.cfm
Recent and early works of MARGARET RUANE textile/quilt artist and LIA OVERMAN painter/textile artist. Showcase Gallery, cnr. Aberdeen and Beaufort Streets, Perth: 16 - 30 Oct. The gallery is open Tues - Friday 11 - 6 Sat. 2 - 4.45. More details available from Mb Lia 0410 21337 Margaret 0437730117.
28th STIRLING RANGE Fibre Weekend & Porongurup Spin-In - Fibre arts including spinning, weaving, basketry, natural dyes, held in two beautiful locations adjoining National Parks. Porongurup spin-in Thursday 14th April 2011 at Porongurup Hall, Porongurup Rd, east of Mt Barker. Stirling Range Fibre Weekend Friday 15th April - Sunday 17th April 2011. Stirling Range Retreat, Chester Pass Road, Borden www.denmarkwa.biz/fibre or ‘phone (08) 9840 8098 for a mail-out, including information about accommodation.
FIBRES WEST 2011: October 9-15 2011 www.fibreswest.com.au
Put these dates in your diaries now! Fibres West 2011 is happening again in Bunbury, Western Australia, in the wonderfully serene natural bush-setting of the Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. Your dedicated committee is currently putting together a selection of stimulating workshops with some of the best tutors from Australia and overseas. This is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in five days of textile and fibre workshops, slide presentations, evening activities, a trade hall, bazaar and exhibitions. The event is fully residential, with recently upgraded accommodation and campus facilities, and great food. Full details of the event, together with booking information, will be released in October 2010 on the website www.fibreswest.com.au ( The website is currently being updated, but still contains information about the venue and facilities, and you can read about the very successful Fibres West 2008.)
FELT Convergence 2011 – October 2-7 2011
http://feltconvergencebunburywa.blogspot.com/ is a blog that has been created for the 11th Southern Hemisphere Felting Convergence Bunbury 2011. Convergence is a gathering of felt makers and sharing knowledge is the underlying theme. It is 5 days of immersion and indulgence in every aspect of felt making, suitable for all levels of experience. Anyone interested in felt making and textiles should attend, there is no need to belong to a formal textile organisation or felting group. The Convergence is held every two years in either New Zealand or Australia. 2011 will be an exciting time for Western Australian felters to really be involved in an international textile event and showcase their work. The blog will communicate on all aspects of the Convergence as the program develops and will be a source of both information and documentation. It is currently calling for expressions of interest from potential tutors. The blog is also posting on lots of beautiful felting to whet appetites for things to enjoy in Bunbury in October 2011. If you have any queries please contact the Convergence Convener Val Hornibrook at feltconvergence2011@westnet.com.au .
MIRROR: an exhibition of the collages of JEANNIE BAKER. Renowned children’s book author and artist, Jeannie Baker, is launching a new book, Mirror – "a visual story is told, contrasting the hurly-burly of life in Sydney with a remote village in Morocco, revealing similarities between two outwardly different cultures, ways of life and landscapes." This is a traveling exhibition supported by the Australian Government through the Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR). The exhibition is at the State Library of West Australia from 5th July – 28 September 2012.
POLLARD Designs 2010 Workshop Series – being held in a new studio now in the bushland hills of Perth. Some dates and topics: Sept 16 Basketry using Natural Plant Fibres; Oct 21 Drawing and Mark Making. Learn from Trudi Pollard: pollarddesigns@gmail.com Phone (08) 9399.7040. www.pollarddesigns.com
The Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery Fremantle has been booked by WAFTA for a Members’ Exhibition August 12-28, 2011 . www.wafta.com
NALDA SEARLES launched a solo exhibition at John Curtin Gallery during July 2009, Drifting in my Own Land in 2009. Dates in 2010 The show is at Ellenbrook Gallery (17 Oct – 28 Nov 2010). In 2011 the exhibition will commence an interstate tour.
STITCHED and BOUND 2010 an Exhibition of Contemporary Quilts will take place from 2 September – 3 October 2010 at Heathcote Museum and Gallery, 58-60 Duncraig Road, Applecross WA. Gallery hours are Tues-Friday, 10am-3pm; Sat/Sun 11am-3pm. Three independent jurors selected twenty quilts in all. This is a project of the West Australian Quilters’ Association (WAQA): www.waquilters.org.au
KOALA CONVENTIONS International Embroidery & Creative Arts Events launches itself for the first time in PERTH: 2-7 October 2010 with workshops from many tutors from Australia and overseas – plus much more. There will be Open House days; Groups and Coaches welcome. Ph/Fax (07) 4093.9474. koalaconventions@tpg.com.au
