Fibre Content 2016 – a Canadian fibre art exhibition

Fibre art / By

If you have love art and textiles, make your way to the Art Gallery of Burlington for the third biennial fibre art show: Fibre Content 2016. The juried exhibit is on from September 8-18, 2016 and showcases outstanding Canadian artists.

Royal Thistle by Helena Scheffer and Marion Perrault, Montreal, QC
Royal Thistle by Helena Scheffer and Marion Perrault, Montreal, QC

l attended the opening reception on Sunday, September 11th with my friend Helen (@piece_by_piece) and her proud mother Barbara. Helen’s piece: Seaton Trail was hung in the gallery space where it could be seen from the entrance.

Seaton Trail by Helen Garland, Toronto, ON
Seaton Trail by Helen Garland, Toronto, ON
Yesterday's News by Dianne Gibson, Fonthill, ON
Yesterday’s News by Dianne Gibson, Fonthill, ON
Falling Leaves by Anne Solomon, Etobicoke, ON
Falling Leaves by Anne Solomon, Etobicoke, ON
Off the Rails by Valerie Prideaux, Toronto, ON
Off the Rails by Valerie Prideaux, Toronto, ON
Maid of the Mist by Jennifer Earle, Burlington, ON
Maid of the Mist by Jennifer Earle, Burlington, ON

I met and spoke to  Jennifer Earle who wove, embroidered and beaded the beautiful shawl above. The details are stunning!

Maid of the Mist (Detail) by Jennifer Earle, Burlington, ON
Maid of the Mist (Detail) by Jennifer Earle, Burlington, ON

Jennifer also created the hanger out of copper tubing to display her entry.

Refuge by Bethany E. Garner, Elinburg ON
Refuge by Bethany E. Garner, Elinburg ON
The Way I See Myself by Sharon Deacon Begg, Guelph, ON
The Way I See Myself by Sharon Deacon Begg, Guelph, ON

This was the first time I had ever attended and so happy to see the amazing works on display. There were 125 pieces on display in 2 gallery rooms. The three jurors chose these from the 218 submissions from 102 artists.

Sunrise at Plum by Micaela Fitzsimmons, Mitchell, ON
Sunrise at Plum by Micaela Fitzsimmons, Mitchell, ON
Ocean by Pat Hertzberg, Caledon, ON
Ocean by Pat Hertzberg, Caledon, ON

I spoke to Pat Hertzberg, a textile and mixed-media artist who recently moved and how this change has influenced her artwork. Her artwork conveys a lightness and transparency that is beautiful.

Stitch Meanderings by Linda Kittmer, Rockwood, ON
Stitch Meanderings by Linda Kittmer, Rockwood, ON
Out of the Shadows by Helen Hughes, Guelph, ON
Out of the Shadows by Helen Hughes, Guelph, ON
The Gingko Tree by Cecelia Cameron, Susan Durham, Shirley Kilpatrick and Patricia Menon, Fonthill, ON
The Gingko Tree by Cecelia Cameron, Susan Durham, Shirley Kilpatrick and Patricia Menon, Fonthill, ON
The Gingko Tree (detail) by Cecelia Cameron, Susan Durham, Shirley Kilpatrick and Patricia Menon, Fonthill, ON
The Gingko Tree (detail) by Cecelia Cameron, Susan Durham, Shirley Kilpatrick and Patricia Menon, Fonthill, ON
Floating in Blue - Triptych by Gunnel Hag, Toronto, ON
Floating in Blue – Triptych by Gunnel Hag, Toronto, ON

This triptych of floating feathers made by Gunnel Hag captured their effortless flight. She had originally displayed it horizontally, but after seeing it hung vertically, Gunnel thought it might even flow better.

Poppies Aglow II by Carolynn McMillan, Burlington, ON
Poppies Aglow II by Carolynn McMillan, Burlington, ON
A Green Thought in a Green Shade by Carolynn McMillan, Burlington, ON
A Green Thought in a Green Shade by Carolynn McMillan, Burlington, ON
Mita Giacomini co-ordinator of the Interactive Display Area
Mita Giacomini co-ordinator of the Interactive Display Area

Mita Giacomini was one of the very talented fibre artist who had 2 pieces in the show as well as coordinating the interactive exhibit. Here she is in front of the board that shows how she creates her work.

Cross Road by Mita Giacomini, Dundas, ON
Cross Road by Mita Giacomini, Dundas, ON

She calls the technique she developed “surface weaving.” She described the process and had the sample to illustrate the steps involved. Mita also has information on her website as well as photographs of her other pieces in this series: Overhead Underfoot.

Brighter Path by Mita Giacomini, Dundas, ON
Brighter Path by Mita Giacomini, Dundas, ON

A feature of the show is the series of Artist Talks given by three fibre artists. These one hour talks are free of charge and open to everyone. The first talk was given by Dianne Gibson on Saturday, but you still have time to hear: Maggie Vanderweit on Wed. Sept. 14th from 10 -11 am and Mita Giacomini on Sun Sep 18th from 1-2  pm.

Camden Town #2 by Heather Dubreuil, Hudson, QC
Camden Town #2 by Heather Dubreuil, Hudson, QC
Port Clyde 3 by Heather Dubreuil, Hudson, QC
Port Clyde 3 by Heather Dubreuil, Hudson, QC
Rue du Buade #1 by Heather Dubreuil, Hudson, QC
Rue du Buade #1 by Heather Dubreuil, Hudson, QC

The photographs I took are just a small sampling of the beautiful work presented in the Fibre Content show. I hope you have the opportunity to see the outstanding art in person. Fibrations is the not-for-profit organization that organizes Fibre Content. All of the artwork in this show will be featured on the Web gallery, where information for the past two shows: 2012 and 2014  can be found.

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