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UNTITLED W A L L H A N G I N G BY JENNIFER LOVE. 4' X 3'. H A N D DYED, S C R E E N PRINTED COTTON WITH APPLIQUE INSPIRED BY A F R I C A N K U B A CLOTH. Fibre P h e n o m e n a textile art | by V a n e s s a Cunnington Textile art is a genre that encompasses a myriad of processes and techniques. Originating in the basic need to clothe and warm themselves, ancient peoples created textiles that were indeed art pieces in their own right. Today, we are lucky in that we can draw from history to produce our own works of art, using both ancient and modern processes. The techniques to create and manipulate fabric include felting, tapestry weaving, handweaving, knitting, quilting, and embroidery. Techniques to create designs on fabric include screenprinting, stencilling, handpainting, and tied and paste resist techniques, to name just a few. We use natural dyes that have been used for thousands of years, colours of which are dependent on many criteria such as soil content and climate. We use modern dyes that can produce the exact colour we want to achieve over and over again. What we create are pieces that are functional and non-functional art. Wall hangings, interior design pieces, garments, rugs, and sculptural pieces are just a few of the possibilities. We use traditional materials such as wool, silk, cotton, and man-made fibres; but we also use untraditional materials such as metal, paper, and monofilament. I am continually amazed by the pieces we produce for our assignments. They are so diverse in nature, material, and concept. At Capilano College, we don't just learn technique and process. We take art history and textile history courses. We learn about other textile artists, both contemporary and traditional. The business course helps us to equip ourselves for life as an artist. Who are textile artists? The students in my group have very diverse backgrounds and have equally diverse cultural heritages. We are high school graduates, we are grandmothers and everything in between. For some of us, this program is a stepping stone to other advanced programs such as fine arts degrees and costume design. Some of us are going to other countries, such as Guatemala and Mexico, to study the textiles traditions of those peoples and to help them rebuild their arts and crafts skills that are becoming forgotten because there is no market for them. Others intend to open studios and produce pieces to sell. What draws us to our art? Zoe Dobbyn says she appreciates functional art; she likes to make a pillow that is a work of art and yet also can be used as a pillow. Sonja Savie likes to experiment with techniques using non-traditional materials. Virginia Baldwin enjoys the feel and touch of textiles, mixing colours, and a freedom to manipulate fibre by a physical act, as in tapestry weaving. For me, the thrill is to produce something by hand. I take fleece from a sheep, spin it, dye it, and produce a garment that means somen e v e r S < o p W h a t is t e x t i l e a r t a n d w h o a r e t e x t i l e a r t i s t s ? V i s i t t h e C i t y S c a p e C o m m u n i t y A r t Space b e t w e e n M a y 10 a n d June 9 a n d y o u w i l l f i n d o u t . The students o f t h e Textile A r t s P r o g r a m at C a p i l a n o C o l l e g e are exhibiting their w o r k . The e x h i b i t i o n contains w o r k s f r o m all t h e s t u d e n t s in t h e f i r s t a n d s e c o n d y e a r s of the p r o g r a m a n d a l s o s t u d e n t s from the advanced program. thing; a garment to be worn and cherished for many years, as did ancient civilizations. In a society that thrives on disposable goods, throwing things away once tired of them, it gives me satisfaction to take time to make something. The process is as important as the final product. One of our assignments was to make a container. I made an old fashioned purse and dedicated it to my late mother and my mother-in-law. While I was embroidering and sewing I thought about them, their lives, and what they had left me as a legacy. Vancouver International Kay 2S-3une 3, ZOOTickets on Sale NOW! Call TicketMaster at 280-4444 or order on-line at www.ticketmaster.ca t i c k e t m a s t e r Vanier Park, 1100 Chestnut Street Visit our website at www.vancouverchildrensfestival.com May I June 5