World of Threads Festival
Blog Archive: Fibre Artist Interviews
Since the series was launched in 2011, Dawne Rudman and Gareth Bate have been interviewing local, national or international fibre artists. We have published over 137 artist interviews to date. Join us as we create a comprehensive archive of some of the most exciting fibre artists in the world. People have subscribed from 96 countries.
Artist Interview 126: Merce Mitchell
You taught yourself to felt and have been doing it now for 20 years. Tell us how you got started: Artist: Merce Mitchell in her studio. Photo: Wanashe Frank. Previous World of Threads Exhibitions Briza, wool, natural dyes, copper wire, 2010, 6″ x 15″ x 6″, hand-felted, stitched, crocheted. Photo: Merce Mitchell My artwork has…
Artist Interview 123: Mary Giehl
Tell us about your work: Artist: Mary Giehl. Previous World of Threads Exhibitions A Functioning System, wool, 2012, crochet, dry felted, wet felted, installation: Tyler Art Gallery, Oswego, New York, USA, 11′ x 16′ x 7″. A Functioning System, wool, 2012, crochet, dry felted, wet felted, installation: DCCA, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, 12′ x 20′ x…
Artist Interview 121: Robin Wiltse
Why did you go into fibre art and how you decided on this medium? Artist: Robin Wiltse One thing that fascinates me about working with wool is the way the fibres hold their colours. You then started to work in felting, how did this come about? Self-Portrait, 27″ x 34″, wool, needle and hand felted.…
Artist Interview 116: Shanell Papp
For this interview Toronto fibre artist Catherine Heard contributed some questions. Tell us about your work Artist: Shannell Papp. You learned to crochet when you were quite young, and in previous interviews you describe spending a lot of time playing with materials and learning craft techniques while you were growing up. When did you realize…
Artist Interview 95: Mackenzie Kelly-Frère
Tell us about your work? Noise 1204, 220 H x 78 cm W, silk, linen, hemp, weaving. Photo: M Kelly-Frère. Detail: Noise 1204, 220 H x 78 cm W, silk, linen, hemp, weaving. Photo: M Kelly-Frère. I am often motivated by the work of my students or colleagues. Where do you get your inspiration? Detail:…
Artist Interview 81: Alice Vander Vennen
Tell us about your work? Artist: Alice Vander Vennen Previous World of Threads Exhibitions Song in Motion, new, found and embellished fabrics, copper, willow branch, piano felt, 25″ X 50″, 2011, Photo credit: Mark Vander Vennen Where do you get your inspiration? Pilgrim, embellished, found and new textiles, copper, African bark cloth, willow branch, copper…
Artist Interview 79: Leisa Rich
Tell us about your work? Artist: Leisa Rich Previous World of Threads Exhibitions Undue Growth, 2011, free motion machine embroidered, dyed, rolled (Leisa Rich) Where do you get your inspiration? Urchin, 2006, rolled and hand embroidered (Leisa Rich) Urchin (detail), 2006, rolled and hand embroidered (leisa Rich) Why did you choose to go into fibre…
Artist Interview 75: Sheila Thompson
Tell us about your work? Artist: Sheila Thompson, photo: Felicity Somerset Previous World of Threads Exhibitions Remnants of Grassland, 2012, 48Hx24Wx3D inches mounted on silk covered canvas. Merino wool, silk roving, linen paper yarn, Tsumugi silk yarn, papyrus, silk rope, spun wool and silk fibres, embedded organics – cherry bark, silk wrapped jasmine dragon pearl…
Artist Interview 74: Kerstin Bennier
Tell us about your work? Artist: Kerstin Bennier, photo: Thomas Bondy, 2012. Previous World of Threads Exhibitions 4 squares: all are 5cm x 10cm, Handmade Felt made of Merino Wool, Silk, screen print & embroidery on wood, Photo: Kerstin Bennier, 2012 Sometimes mistakes or unplanned outcomes can also inspire me to work in different ways.…
Artist Interview 71: Lorena Santin-Andrade
Tell us about your work? Magnolia shrug shawl, Nuno felting on silk, 2012 Photo-Lorena Santin Andrade Magnolia cascading scarf, Nuno felting on silk, 2012 Photo-Lorena Santin Andrade Previous World of Threads Exhibitions Hydrangea shawl shrug, Nuno felting on silk, 2012 Photo-Lorena Santin Andrade What other mediums do you work in, and how does this inform…