Biennale of Marrakech

El Anatsui was exhibiting at the Palais el Badii.

I love the folds of metal making it take on the properties of cloth.

The metal looks soft and pliable like a blanket.

I love the size of this work.

It looks beautiful exhibited outside. I can only imagine the sun light touching the medium and making it glow.

To see more of my posts about El Anatsui click here.

(photo credit Sophia Reford)

Disappointing News

I found out today that my piece Last Tree Standing has NOT been selected for an exhibit to be shown at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Carrefour Europeén du Patchwork in Alsace, France.

Last Tree Standing
2014
25cm x 100cm
assorted fabrics, hand applique
 machine stitched,
metal staples
Afghanistan embroidery

The idea for this exhibit was to select from a web site a hand-embroidered leaf made by Afghani women and integrate it into a textile piece. The length had to be 4 X the width. It was open to EU participants only. I was able to apply through my Italian citizenship.

The idea I had at the beginning changed when I saw how large the embroideries were. (green leaves)

Last Tree Standing
detail

The commercial fabric I used as a background had the shadows of trees. It looked to me like a war torn area in a foggy scene and shadows of tree skeletons in the background. Over this background I created a tree only using fabrics I collected from the floor of a seamstress' atelier.

My tree trunk is made of velvets and stretchy polyester, cotton and textured woven pieces and hand dyed silks. I 'painted' the trunk using all the fabrics that were destined for a land fill. I did not purchase any new materials for this piece. The colours are plentiful- purple, blue, orange, brown, green, pink....I particularly like the stapled number onto the trunk- a selvage edge.  It makes a powerful statement.

Last Tree Standing, detail

I really like it. I am sorry the jury, made up of 5 European women, did not feel it worthy of being part of the 60 piece exhibit.

Along with my generic rejection email, I did get a lovely personal email from the organizer. She called it "an exciting piece with profound symbolism" and she liked my choice of colours.

Even with her great comments, it is still disappointing news.

Stitching?

Last Saturday, while the family went to the market for Mother's Day dinner ingredients, I was dropped off on Queen Street and had a lovely hour walk stopping in at the amazing art galleries all along that trendy street.

David Kaye Gallery was one of my stops.

Coming from a textile background himself (weaving) he selects interesting textile artwork for his space. He does feature other art mediums. I stop in there regularly.

This piece caught my eye.

detail, Icarus No.11
2012
mixed media on aluminum
by Donald Andrus

It reminded me of stitching, of making marks with thread and a needle. I liked the juxtaposition of the hard material imitating a soft technique. The artist used cold aluminum while the activity of stitching into textile is soft and comfortable. That's my opinion. That's what I got out of the artist's work. It is valid. I am the viewer. It is, however, nothing like what the artist wrote about his own work. To read that click here.

Icarus No. 11
 by Donald Andrus
mixed media on aluminum
(not a great photo, sorry!The art work looks better LIVE))

I was told that artist Donald Andrus does not stitch as part of his practice.

Metal Patchwork

Closest

Closer

Close

Far from home.

I am in Paris for a few days.

Metal Tapestries

One of El Anatsui's work is part of the permanent collection at the Centre Pompidou. He gained international recognition in 1990 when he represented Africa in the Venice Biennale.

About two years ago, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada, hosted a 40-year retrospective of his work.

Sasa, 2004

This monumental work can be displayed in different configurations which the artist leaves to the curator to decide.

Its size is very powerful.

His metal tapestries recall the golden shimmer of Klimt paintings, evokes weaving and cloth and even sculpture.

He used flattened liquor-bottle tops and "sews" them together with copper wire. His medium, introduced by Europeans, hints at the relationship between Africa and the Western world.

Dutch Lace

Galvanized steel wire chain-link fence woven to resemble traditional Dutch lace, Centre Pompidou, in Paris.

The Demakersvan partnership has teamed up with an Indian company to marry industrial production to manual skill.

I will be posting more about what I saw at Centre Pompidou. Their collection is really spectacular.