The annual LOOK Arts Exhibition and Sale is on now at The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria.
It is in the salon tradition where all entries are displayed which makes it very diverse.
I have two fibre pieces in it this year.
Playing with
Fibre
Artist’s
statement
As a fibre
archeologist discovering artifacts at church sale, thrift store, flea market etc. digs, I used this exquisite handwoven piece
(with its provenance label) as both the loom on which to weave (the loom
persists in the completed object) and as lengths steeked (cut) for the warp and
the weft.
It was then
folded (orikeito) and, with two simple cuts for armholes, two shoulder seams,
became a vest/tabard.
This garment
expresses clothing as architecture housing the body, making use of our natural heating and cooling systems.
Orikeito was
continued in extra folding at neck and waist for increased visual texture and
flow.
The hidden
fringe was cut away and revealed in a freely sculpted expansive shape of
compressed energy.
Edges were
casually corralled with stitches but no attempt was made to finish them.
Playing. With fibre.
Cheerfully
Karen Skowron
The Dogs
Walkerer
Artist’s
statement
Along
Caledonia street I often see four to eight dogs being walked by a single
person.
They always
catch my interest, delight and – curiosity: they look so harmonious and
content.
Wanting to
express this led to this piece.
The
silhouettes and slightly-felted raw fleece backing felt right; the stiff denim supported characters in
negative space.
It was
intended to be worn – a scarf – and then, more a stole but now … hmmmm … ?
The leashes
were raw fleece, vibrantly
spun, meant to convey the rapport
I felt between those dogs and human.
Which led, I suppose, partway through the process, to the title The Dogs
Walkerer suddenly drifting to mind.
I do note,
however, that while the dogs are calmly strolling, the human is in rather a trot. Make of that as you will. I am having to!
Cheerfully
Karen Skowron