Amorphous Backstage – World of Threads Festival

Amorphous

2023-24 Exhibition: Backstage

Our major group exhibition was all about abstracted natural elements. The artworks evoked organic things such as plants, leaves, trees, roots, seeds, reefs, rocks, feathers, algae, nests, soil, sediment, clouds and shells. They recalled processes like new life, growth and decay. Although they evoked these elements, the artists did so in a non-literal way through abstraction. Many of the works were made using repurposed or recycled materials They were filled with life and vitality. They were amorphous and bursting off the wall as they lunged out towards you. Works ranged in scale from massive to tiny and used a huge variety of materials and fibre and textile techniques. This exhibition was the spiritual successor to our 2012 show De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things).

Photography by Gareth Bate

Gallery

Artworks

Backstage

Opening

Slide to see the before and after.

Curators

Canada: Ontario: Toronto: Gareth Bate
Canada: Ontario: Oakville: Dawne Rudman

Artists

Canada: British Columbia: Vancouver: Thomas Roach, Victoria: Martina Edmondson. Ontario: Barry's Bay: Anna Wagner-Ott, Burlington: Svetland Turov, Caledon: Elizabeth Babyn, Howe Island: Leisa Rich, Peterborough: G. Annie Whitty, Richmond Hill: Melanie Siegel, Simcoe: Mary Ann Rich, St. Catharines: Hannah Rothschild, Toronto: Elaine Whittaker, Sarah Elizabeth Creskey, Susan Farquhar, Walter's Falls: Julia White.
India: Goa: Gopika Nath.
Mexico: Jalisco: Chapala: Deborah Kruger.
New Zealand: Whanganui: Kate Sellar.
South Korea: Seoul: Eunsun An.
USA: Illinois: Forest Park: Gretchen Jankowski, Oak Park: Karen Gubitz, Oregon: Salem: Darilyn Bennett, Rhode Island: Cranston: Sonja Czekalski, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh: Stefanie Zito.