A three-in-one art exhibition has brought woodturning and fabric arts under one gallery roof.
Fibre Art Network has two shows – ‘Narrow Works’ and ‘I Am…’ – hung alongside '12 Turners' by the Fraser Valley Woodturners Guild. The three exhibits are on display at the newly named Odlum Brown Art Gallery inside the Chilliwack Cultural Centre from June 25 to July 26.
Fibre Art Network member Karen Johnson of Langley explained how the fabric art and wood pieces complement each other.
Pieces by both groups involve a lot of work with ones hands, she said, adding that the textures of the fibre artwork, such as embroidery or crinkly fabric, complements the rough edges of some of the wooden pieces.
“There are a lot of shapes (in the woodturning) that are involved in the pieces we have.”
Wood artist Michael Hamilton-Clark said the show features an "incredible" variety of forms.
“It’s all, in a way, using natural materials. Where they're using fibre, we're using fibre – but wood," Hamilton-Clark said. "I think it’s an art form as well as a craft. It’s fibre craft, but it’s also wood craft.”
Both groups experiment with a bunch of different materials and techniques.
Some woodturners have used malformed and rotted wood, creating one-of-a-kind pieces featuring unique colours, holes or knots.
The Fibre Art Network members use beading and felting, plus computers to print images on fabric. Another technique they use is called ice dying, where ice is placed onto the fabric and then dye is sprinkled on top. As the ice melts, the different colours of dye intermingle with each other on the fabric.
“Every piece here is a different mixture of techniques and whatnot," Johnson said.
Unlike the Fibre Art Network, this is the first time the woodturners guild has had a show at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. There are 68 members in the guild and five of the 12 wood artists in the show are from Chilliwack.
In a group statement, the Fraser Valley Woodturners Guild said the group has "different styles and years of experience, so the exhibition is quite eclectic."
The wood pieces include bowls, platters, jewelry boxes, vases, ornaments, pens, salt and pepper mills, goblets, animals, and even hand-painted miniature eggs with egg cups.
The Fibre Art Network has 120 members throughout Western Canada. There are dozens of members displaying their work in the show, three of whom are from Chilliwack, one from Agassiz, and one from Harrison Mills. The Fibre Art Network exhibits across Canada, and has had shows in the States and New Zealand.
‘Narrow Works’ is an open-themed show where artists were only restricted by the size and shape of the canvas. The group explains that ‘I Am...’ serves as a "powerful foundation for exploring identity, self-expression, and personal narrative."
The three shows are on display at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre from Wednesday, June 25 to Saturday, July 26. The opening reception is set for Saturday, June 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and before some evening shows at the centre.
