Installation in Paris

This work by Lyndi Sales was seen in Paris at Le Bon Marché, a department store. My sister took the picture for me.

I love the hexagon shapes that peek out from behind circles. I like the artist's use of thread.

Audience (2010) by South African artist Lyndi Sales
3m x 2m
(photo credit J. Lavallee)

To read more about this work and see detailed images click here.

A Thought

Once in a while I wonder if it is worth blogging.

Is there anyone out there??

I check my stats regularly and there are hundreds of views worldwide per week so someone out there is enjoying my photos and my thoughts.

Someone out there is being inspired.

Once in a while I get a comment that encourages me to continue, like Martha's which she just posted even though it was a past post. Thanks Martha!!

I do too much talking to the walls as a mom so it's nice to know someone is listening on-line.

Keep commenting!

(my photos from the airplane flying over South Africa, October 2013)

Weaving

Look at the beautiful weaving.

While I was standing in front of this sculpture at the Tokara vineyards in South Africa, I heard a voice...there was someone inside it! A young girl reading a book.

The structure reminds me of the nests I saw while in Kruger National Park.

The small yellow things are birds!
(sorry the picture isn't that great)

I did see some beautiful woven baskets in Kruger but the store owner would not sell them to me. They were being used as containers for their jewelry.

These two ladies were outside a shop in Stellenbosch weaving and spinning silk... and singing while they worked.

The brown silk is from the Mopani worm which is found in South Africa. The white silk worms come from China.

And just to gross you out...when my daughter visited South Africa in 2005 she ATE a Mopani worm and got a certificate stating so.

Driving to Kruger National Park

Table cloths for sale along the road side.

African Billie Zangewa

Billie Zangewa creates silk tapestries. She was born in Malawi, raised in Botswana, studied in Grahamstown, South Africa, worked in Johannesburg and exhibited in New York.

I was introduced to her work at Art Paris Art Fair at the gallery MAGNIN-A.

Christmas at the Ritz, 2006
120 cm x 111 cm
embroidered silk
There are better images on the artist's and gallery website

She comes to textile art from a fashion background. Fabric was her medium then and it is now.

She sews together snippits from her life. She often places herself in the image- a self-portrait in a captured moment.

Artist is in the right hand corner
(sorry about the reflection in the glass)

A captured moment like a photograph.

I love the way she has bits missing in her background fabric choice. That seems to be in all her work.

Simple stitching, beautiful choices of colour and fabric. It's like painting with fabric.

(notice the absence of the word patchwork)

Paul Schutte

While in the Val D'Argent area of France for the textile forum, I had the pleasure of meeting artist Paul Schutte from South Africa.

Paul Schutte in front of his work entitled,
"Barren Mountainscape", 2011,
58 cm x 78 cm

He is full of energy! I love his accent!

Acid Mine Drainage, 2011,
56 cm x 77 cm

He often uses African fabrics in his textile work.

Acid Mine Drainage, detail.

He created a series of 12 panels introducing himself and his battle with prostate cancer. He was very brave to share his experience with others and did it in a very unique way. Some visitors who had themselves experienced cancer had tears in their eyes as they read his poetry that accompanied each panel.

poem #10, detail 

 poem #5

poem # 12

I was disappointed I was only able to dedicate 10 minutes to his exhibit! Shameful but it was either that or nothing. I am so glad I drove up to Romach-le-Franc even for that very short visit. 

Shown here are four of Prof. Paul Schutte's pieces in his environmental series.
He is the director of Communication Studies at
North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa.