Saturday 24 August 2013

the weaver of grass

since coming to Newburgh i've hardly been able to tear myself away from the river
but i went to Perth for a day
to see an exhibition at the Perth Museum and Gallery

'the weaver of grass'

the work of Angus McPhee
whose sad history can be read here


the works speak for themselves










 

there was a "touchable" sample at the exhibition
made by Joanne B Kaar
whose own work is also fascinating

i'd also like to add a virtual bouquet for the kind gentleman on the desk at the museum who, when i tottered in and inquired about the exhibition practically took me by the hand to lead me thither. what a sweetie.

12 comments:

  1. Não conhecia o artista mas pude perceber através das fotos que é emoção pura. Obrigada por dividir esses momentos de arte e prazer com seus seguidores e admiradores...
    Ro Ribeiro

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  2. so you've seen this up close! how wonderful. joanne's a long time internet friend, and i've so wanted to see this work and the play, too. maybe you'll get a chance for that?

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  3. Thank you India for sharing the work and story of this artist. I think we all have a bit of madness in us that I think helps us tap into the divine. Some of us might tap more than others but it's always there for us if we want to get our toes wet.

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  4. I saw it this week too and it was moving and inspiring.

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  5. Intriguing. Wish I were closer to go see this.

    I have to tell you what an epiphany I am having as a result of reading your Eco Colour.

    I am an organic farmer's wife who arrived from northern big cities to the country in Georgia (in the US) 20 years ago. I have had trouble completely embracing farm life. I am an artist and am often inside and using toxic materials. I had bought a book about making eco paint which was pushing me in a better direction but still not helping me to find my place on our farm. And then, after deciding to dye a tablecloth as a wedding present, I found your beautiful book at the library.

    I ended up reading it, every single page, all night long. I am completely enthralled with all of it! I will be using what we have on the farm and ordering seeds to plant more of a dyer's garden. I got pots and white thrift store cotton shirts today. A giant branch that we recently pruned from our Eucalyptus tree is hanging out in our bedroom, waiting for me to get going. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. and thank YOU so much for taking the time to tell me so!

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  6. What amazing pieces! I am having enough trouble learning how to knit with knitting needles, let alone fence wire!

    And thank you for the reply re. what was the largest piece of cloth you had ever dyed (I can't find where I actually posted the question so decided to reply on this post) Such a shame that I will miss you in New Orleans, but perhaps I will be in LA at the same time! Hopefully one day soon I will be able to make it to one of your workshops & be able to pick your brain (fingers crossed for Australia workshops :) )! I have read your book back to front but still have so many questions!

    I have one more (if you don't mind me asking) I don't like the idea of adding alum or iron powders as mordants or modifiers, so am experimenting with using the pot-as-mordant method, or scrap pieces of metal. But I was wondering if you use an iron pot? The trouble I am having is finding one not too heavy to use on my kitchen stove, but yet still deep enough to dye in, and being careful when I leave cloth soaking in it that it doesn't rust (as I want to use the cloth for clothing). I have got myself a camping cast iron pot (which is a tad too heavy), but was wondering if there were any other iron pots dyers commonly use, and if you worry about yours getting rusty?

    Sophie
    Eco edyeing student campaigning for an Aussie based workshop! :)

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    Replies
    1. i just drop a few old bits of iron into any big [other] pot - works very well to darken colours.

      just watch out for the rust. there's a prevailing fashion to rust cloth [ie with ferric oxide] and that is going to damage the cloth in the long run.
      but black iron marks from iron objects are fine and actually assist in prolonging the life of the fibre

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    2. Thank you so much India!!! You're so great how you still make time to reply to all the questions you receive, it means a lot :)

      Cheers, Soph

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  7. Thank you India - Angus' story brought me to tears...

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