Fibres & Beyond is a women’s art textile co-operative based on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Our accomplished group of 12, was founded in 2002 as a way to support and challenge each other while working with surface design, fibre, fabric and mixed media. The work we create ranges in dimension, varying in scale from tiny soft sculpture to large wall pieces. The members of this eclectic and colourful group paint, sew, embroider, weave, dye, felt, wrap and stretch all fibres. From wool, silk and cotton, to seaweed, recycled garments and found items – all is put to use in our whimsical, functional, or decorative art.
Each spring we attempt to coincide our show, with the flowering of the lilies in the churchyard of St. Mary’s. This year it is Consider the Lilies XII.
Your visit will include this extravagance of nature surrounding the heritage church built by Metchosin pioneers in 1872.
Time has come for Art lovers to flock to Metchosin for our annual Consider the Lilies Show. The members of Fibres and Beyond will present a rich and varied array of fabric and fibre art works, wearable’s to wall pieces, jewellery and beautiful detailed dolls.
The extraordinary artwork of: Joan Taylor, Isabel Tipton, Irm Houle, Elizabeth Tanner, Mary Wolfe, Judy Seeley, Joy Garnett, Linda Danielson, Gail Erickson, Phyllis Lysionek, Jessie Taylor-Dodd and Stephanie Saleem awaits your discovery inside. The show runs for nine days, giving ample opportunity for multiple visits to browse and chat with the artists who will be in attendance throughout the span of the show.
We continue to evolve as artists, honing our individual styles while expanding our interests as we journey through the year. Our members have faced a gamut of unique roller coaster rides this year and we delight in the reassurance of our ability as a group to support and encourage each other.
The group ranges in age from early 40’s to mid-80’s. Our individual approaches to art, along with our commitment to supporting each other is the golden thread that ensures we continue to create a wonderful fresh visual experience year after year. You will find glimpses of our individuality and unique life experiences in our work, the ebb and flow of creativity stretched out along the pews of St. Mary’s for your visual pleasure.
Stephanie Saleem is the newest member of our group, bringing a beautiful richness with her exquisite tiny images of felt design.
Below you’ll find a few words from each artist, describing their current inspiration.
Linda Danielson: The call of the seasons and the ever changing natural world present to me a deep desire to connect with the creative process providing inspiration for my cloth figures.
Jessie Taylor-Dodd: I employ methods of surface design that derive reference from spatial order. Constructions of paintings are often expanded from intricate small-scale Marquette’s.
Phyllis Lysionek: Living in paradise is a gift which enables me to create. My surroundings nurture my creative soul, leaving the space for unique ideas to flow.
Gail Erickson: I have always loved fabric and I find the endless possibilities presented by a piece of fabric to be exciting and stimulating.
Joy Garnett: Blending colour and texture in surface design is especially important to me and is a hallmark of my work.
Mary Wolfe: Today, the sacred as seen in the natural world is the primary source of inspiration for my art.
Irm Houle: My inspiration comes from the beauty of our island. Many of my paintings reflect the ocean, the woods and the gardens that surround us.
Elizabeth Tanner: It’s all about yarn for me, fine weaving yarns, chunkier and fluffier knitting yarns.
Judy Seeley: As a recurring theme, I find myself inspired by the natural world from a spiritual perspective.
Joan Taylor: I use collaged fabrics and thousands of machine stitches with coloured threads to interpret the natural world.
Isabel Tipton: My images are both realistic and abstract, the end product useful and practical or purely ornamental.
Stephanie Saleem: Being in touch, connected with mother earth and nature and sharing that connection with others. Walking through life with awareness and treading lightly, with care and compassion for our surroundings and fellow beings.
The details:
Consider the Lilies XII, A fibre art show and sale by memberes of Fibres & Beyond.
Show Hours: April 5 – April 13, 2014.
Saturday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 6, 12 - 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 13 12 – 4 p.m.
Location: Old St. Mary’s Church, 4354 Metchosin Road in Metchosin.
To contact Fibre & Beyond members, or glimpse through our work visit our website at: www.fibresandbeyond.com
Contributed by Phyllis Lysionek