The Lace Project - Nillumbik Living in the Landscape Public Art Incubator

The Lace Project is one of four projects in The Living in the Landscape Public Art Incubator.  It is installed over the summer of 2017-18  It uses the art of lace making to connect community and space. Over the past few months I have explored the bush surrounding Hurstbridge Community Hub with kids and adults from the community and from this, designed a series of installations that will temporarily adorn the Hub. Parts of the lace have been made in the space and with community.

The first large scale piece is a reflection of time spent with the children of Hurstbridge Kindergarten and Childcare Centre exploring the bush surrounding the Hub.  On our walk we saw ducks, felt and collected leaves and flowers and noticed textures, shapes and smells.  

 Install day

 Close up of work

Piece from the front

Detail of work prior to install

The darker rope elements are enlargements of drawings the children made on reflection of our walk together.  This darker rope was coloured by eco-dye techniques using leaf fall from eucalypts surrounding the Hub.

Eco-dye process

The outcome

The second large scale piece is a reflection of my time spent walking the bush with Friends of Diamond Creek - Hurstbridge  and learning of the weed removal and planting programs that have helped  return the bush to its native state. 

The vista that inspired the piece

The  smaller round piece displayed inside the Hub is a more detailed reflection of this shared walk and highlights some of the native species such as poa labillardieri, poa poiformis, bulbine bulbosa and maidenhair fern as well as the tall eucalyptus in the distance.

Detail of work

The acacia and gum installation on the internal divide of the hub was created in two parts.  The first  by community members in a workshop held with the assistance of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Lace Guild and the second through casual drop-in/come and try days.  Participants included Araluen, staff of Nillumbik Shire, Boomerang Bag contributors and Men’s Shed.

 The piece installed inside the Hub

 Detail of works

It has been such an honour to explore and create in and with this community and be given an opportunity to explore my practice in new ways.   The youngest participant of the project was 2 years old and the oldest in her 80s.  On the day of the lace workshop three generations sat at one table learning the art of lace together and helping each other out.   I have loved the contributions from community in shaping and making and the conversations held with contributors and observers alike.

This project was made possible by Nillumbik Shire and the support of the Victorian Branch of the Australian LaceGuild.

 

Video courtesy of Nillumbik Shire Council Arts and Cultural Development

Leaves of Lace

Leaves of Lace was a collaborative project presented by Boyd Community Hub and Craft Victoria as part of Craft Cubed – Window Walk series for 2017, a festival of craft by Craft Victoria. The theme for the 2017 event was ‘Crafting Communities’ making it an ideal subject to showcase the lace making community.


‘A single leaf is unique and a source of great beauty.  It joins to a branch and that branch to another….soon you have a thriving tree.’




This site specific installation featured lace gum leaves made by members of the Australian Lace Guild Victorian Branch and community members who have participated in workshops run by the Guild.

 These leaves are symbolic of the individuals that make up our crafting community.  They are a contemporary reflection on each individual within this community.

As part of Craft Cubed Lindy also made leaves at Boyd Community Hub and left for the community to discover.  Additionally a Leaf making workshop was held at the Hub giving participants the chance to be introduced to the rhythm and beauty of bobbin lace making.


This was all made possible via the support of Australian Lace Guild Victorian Branch, Craft Victoria and City of Melbourne.

Rythym of Lace

In 2016 I held a couple of Lace Workshops with the Textile Art Community in Heidelberg Heights.  This was with the help of some very talented lace makers from the Victorian Branch of the Australian Lace Guild.  This culminated with an exhibition at the Darebin Arts and Entertainment Center where the leaves made a unique sculpture.  The exhibition took place 1-30 June 2016.



As TAC promote the use of recycled materials I decided to take the opportunity to explore making large scale lace with reclaimed rope.  Working in plastic rope was a challenge and I certainly learnt a lot. 

Louise Saxton - WILD

As a member of the Australian Lace Guild I have taken on the job of writing a regular article for the Australian Lace Magazine.  The articles will focus on contemporary lace makers and artists who use lace as inspiration for their work.  The bonus is that the artists might also agree to allow me to feature them in this blog.

The first artist I have the honour of introducing is the amazing Australian Artist Louise Saxton.  If you are lucky enough to be in Melbourne between November 12 - December 5 please head to her exhibition entitled WILD.

WILD  
12 November - 5 December
Gould Galleries
270 Toorak Road, South Yarra 3141

www.gouldgalleries.com

Louise Saxton in studio with Feint Heart 2015 after Adrian Feint 1944
(Photo shows work in progress)
Reclaimed needlework, glass-head pins, lace pins, nylon tulle
Approx. H 185 x W 165cm

Louise uses 'reclaimed' embroidery and lace to create amazing artworks.  Although each reclaimed piece holds a new purpose in her work, it still honours its historical origins.

Louise's work developed an embroidery/lace focus after a residency in Kuala Lumper in 2006.  She had always loved textiles but the immersion in the exotic birds, insects and gardens inspired her to begin working with the 'garden that is embroidery'.  Louise collects the embroidery and lace  from markets, op shops, friends, family and travels.  She then creates her work by cutting and pinning these pieces together to form a contemporary tactile assemblage.  

When asked about her current body of work for WILD Louise stated - 

In this exhibition I turn my attention from birds and insects to flora, but in a more eclectic way, however my concerns for the loss of domestic art traditions and species in the natural world are still prevalent.  The title WILD speaks to my process and the various materials I use, as well as my motivation behind this more eclectic second exhibition at Gould Galleries.  In Sanctuary Too I sought to find sanctuary for the disappearing materials and in WILD I have sought to “go wild” – in both my approach to the medium and in my imagination.  For me the term describes the overall impact I hope the exhibition will have and also its references to nature.  While only a portion of the embroidery used to create this body of work is Australian wildflowers, the entire flora in the exhibition (from the most stylized or the most accurate embroidered motif, to my reinterpreted paintings of flowers) has its origins in a wildflower somewhere in the world.  Even genetically modified flora comes from a wild source.  Overall I hope that the viewer might leave the exhibition with a sense of “that was wild”.

Bubo & Snow 2014 – after Edward Lear 1832
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins, nylon tulle and silk on museum board
H 73 x W 52cm
Private Collection Boston MA, USA

Louise Saxton in studio with Feint Heart 2015 after Adrian Feint 1944
(Photo shows work in progress)
Reclaimed needlework, glass-head pins, lace pins, nylon tulle
Approx. H 185 x W 165cm

I have had the privilege of seeing Louise's work and love the texture and sculptural quality her pieces have as each piece is pinned together.  Her works are contemporary while honouring the tradition and beauty of each reclaimed piece.

If you are in Melbourne and can get to Gould Galleries please do.  You will not regret seeing these pieces, their textures, colours and beauty

For more examples of Louise’s exquisite work head to http://www.louisesaxton.com/ Under the Journal section you will find some amazing detail of the creation of “Feint Heart” and “Partum Floralia” 2015, both of which will feature in the WILD exhibition.

Photos by Gavin Hansford

Spinners for MeMe

I am very privileged to have a wonderful friend who recently began her foray in the world of Etsy shops.  Jen is an amazing woman and mother who somehow finds time to continue to explore her love for design and all things sewing.

Jen's store, Spinners for MeME sells amazing hand crafted spinners (AKA dresses) in sizes 1-4.  I recently took on a collaboration with Jen.  It is a perfect union in my book, I get to make lace and Jen gets to sew and the outcome is a stunning handmade dress with handmade lace features.

The first creation of our collaboration is a dress called the Petticoat Spinner.  In Jen's words -
 It is a classic design, with a lightweight blue cotton over a silver grey cotton voile lining, the full lining drapes into a half circle skirt which peeks out below the outer dress. In our house dresses are known as Spinners, and each new design gets its own name, so this dress has been named the "Petticoat Spinner".





I have designed a handmade lace cloud which hovers over the dresses silver lining.  We are very proud to have had one sale so far and I hope this is the beginning of many more lace collaborations with Spinners for MeMe.

The bonus is this particular dress has been specially designed for the #makeforgood campaign, raising funds for Plan Internationals "Because I am A Girl" project, which supports women in developing countries access education, healthcare and with protection of human rights. 20% of the sale price will be donated to the campaign.

To see more of Jen's wonderful creations and inspiration please check out Spinners for MeMe and Facebook and Instagram.

Veteran Community Story Writing and Art Competition

The Story Writing and Art Competition (SWAC) is an annual art/painting, craft, photography, story writing and poetry event run specifically for members of Victoria’s ex-service community.  The competition is open to current and ex- service men and women as well as his/her partner, children and grandchildren.

The competition began in 1962 at the Repatriation General Hospital in Heidelberg, Melbourne, as therapy for returned soldiers. Today, it continues to enhance participants’ health and wellbeing by providing the opportunity to develop new skills, interests and social support.  This year there was a record number of entries from those currently serving, demonstrating the power creating art has at such times.

My grandfather served as a Commando in World War 2 and encouraged me to enter an artwork I completed many years ago that reflects upon war.  I noticed there was also a textile and fibre category so decided to take the opportunity to enter some wire lace.  I thought this would be an opportunity to exhibit and allow a wider audience to see this style of lace.

My grandfather accompanied me to the opening and to my surprise and our delight my lace piece entitled Gum Leaves had won third prize.  I am looking forward to attending the award ceremony in November.

 This award, along with my recent recognition at the Triennial Lace Awards has encouraged me to continue to explore the world of wire lace and continue to develop my own style and designs using this medium. 

The Australian Lace Guild - Trienial Lace Awards for 2015

The Triennial Award is a competition held every three years by the Australian Lace Guild.  The theme for 2015 was Gold.  There are various categories including bobbin, needle and mixed laces as well as group entries.  This year I decided to enter a piece under the bobbin lace category.  This was a huge step for me as until this year, I had never entered a piece of lace into anything other than a country show.

As per my previous post I participated in a lace demonstration at the National Gallery of Victoria ealier this year as part of their Exquisite Threads exhibition.  The exhibition coincided with my decision to make a piece for the Trienial Awards so I went along looking for inspiration for my design.  I certainly found it.

Below is the piece I made. It is made with copper wire.  The design is made in three sections and then joined.

Here you can see where I found my inspiration at Exquisite Threads.  These are strong connections to the shapes lines and form of three of the pieces from the exhibition.

The winners for the award were announced at the AGM during the National Conference.  To my delight I was awarded Highly Commended.  It is an honour to learn that my piece is regarded highly amongst the lace community. 

I really enjoyed designing this piece and creating it.  The whole process just seemed to flow together.  It has certainly inspired me to continue designing and creating pieces in wire.

The theme for the next Trienial Award is footprints.  If I pulled this piece together in four months lets see where my imagination, skills and drive can take me in three years........