Fibre Arts Classes
FIBRE ARTS BUNCHJanuary ~ June 2012
Meetings are on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (bring lunch)
‘Show and Share’ will take place after lunch
(The Arts Centre is open 9:00~4:00 for extended work time)
At FAB, we will continue to take turns introducing new ideas/techniques to each other in an informal/demonstration sort of way. We will continue challenging ourselves with the theme; Water. Water is also the theme of the 2013 Threadworks exhibition… perhaps FAB pieces will make it into the show!?
Play Days allow each of us the opportunity to work on one piece for as long as needed to see it to completion. We will continue to plan our program together; sharing and learning from each other. New members are always welcome!
January 4 Play Day. Bring one or two finished pieces for the Trunk Show (Jan. 4&5 Quilt Guild Meetings). Bring lunch and show and share.
January 18 Play Day. Bring your ideas (demos, exhibitions to visit, road trip destinations) to plan balance of our current program. Bring lunch and show and share.
February 1 Pat Armstrong will lead us in composition and colour exercises from 10 to 12:30. Bring scraps (about 2”x2”) of plain fabric in about 20 colours. If you don’t have 20 colours, bring extra of the colours you have and swap. Bring lunch and show and share. Snow date is February 15
February 15 Play Day. Work on your water piece. Bring lunch and show and share.
March 7 Two Hour Challenge; receive a small package of fabric and yarn and take the morning to create
a postcard sized piece. Thank you Pat A. for donating the materials and assembling the packages! Bring lunch and show and share.
March 21 Play Day. Work on your water piece. Bring lunch and show and share.
April 4 Workshop: Cut and Paste technique (table runner?) with Pat Menary. Note: 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
$20 workshop fee, supply list will be provided.
April 18 Bring in one or two pieces (ready for hanging/display) for the ICAC Members’ Exhibition
April 29 Members’ Exhibition opens and runs until May 20
May 2
May 16 ? Road Trip?
June 6 Cooperative Paper Making Workshop; no fee (supply list will be provided)
June 20 Program planning for the fall followed by a Pot Luck Lunch.
What is Fibre Art?
Fibre Art can be described as painting and sculpting with fabric, threads and fibre. Work can be two dimensional wall art, three dimensional sculptures or wearable art.
Fabrics used are hand-dyed or painted, or commercially dyed. They may be cotton, silk, linen and other natural fibres or any of the wide range of synthetic fibres. Threads and yarns used are also a variety of natural and synthetic fibres. Fabrics, threads and yarns are chosen for their colour and textural elements.
Layering is an important technique used in Fibre Art to create depth and interest. Sheer organza or tulle can add highlights, shadows and even movement. Small snippets trapped under netting can suggest leaves or even create a whole scene. Deliberate shapes stacked and fused can add structure and presence. Generally, the upper layers are fastened to a stabilizing base fabric.
There are countless techniques to create texture in Fibre Art. Beginning with a variety of weights, weaves and sheens of fabrics and yarns, texture can be further enhanced by manipulating the raw materials. Deliberate folds might be created, edges torn, pieces raised by stuffing the underside, yarns couched (hand-stitched on), holes or edges burned, additional elements added to float on top of the piece, embroidery… . Non-traditional elements include the use of metal, papers, tyvek, bubble wrap, wax, and again the list goes on. But let’s not forget about the use of beads and how they add detail and glitter!
Fibre Art, like quilting, is a labour of love. Sewing machines are pushed to their limits as are fingers and imagination. It is a very time consuming process, often presenting many technical challenges.