“Silver Threads and Golden Needles”, a lyric from the iconic hit written by Reynolds/Rhodes and sung by Linda Ronstadt, revived from Wanda Jackson version of the 1950’s, is a classic wording reminiscent of heartbreak and sorrow. But wait, I luckily found new meaning for it in the “World of Threads Festival” which could indeed mend the heart of many people with its outstanding expression and craftsmanship in Fibre Arts and Textiles. The last day of the exhibition was January 14, 2024, but the photographs here, and images on the website, will give you some idea of the exuberance of the work and its unique and outstanding qualities.
426 Artworks
The festival was held, 426 artworks by 115 international artists, at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, and was organized and curated by Dawne Rudman and Gareth Bate.
A party of four of us wandered in on a Christmas Holidays jaunt and were immediately impressed with the size and breadth of the exhibition. It was a never-ending exhibition and because of the interest found in each piece we literally ran out of time.
2D3D
Actually, we were astounded by the uniqueness of the works because we were all artists of a different bent. We use paint, and paper, and canvas, and brushes to create abstractions and illusions of reality. All this work we were looking at transported us to a new world of two- and three-dimensional thought where space was twisted, stretched, enclosed, and textured. Some were huge and some were small. Take for example this large wall piece,
which in comparison to some exhibits was medium sized, measuring about 4 feet by six feet. It exploded out of the wall with its originality of material use and was declared in it’s somewhat predictable nomenclature as “California Dreaming”. For me personally the artwork was a truly novel experience. An experiment in anti-flatness, it jumped out of the wall and right at you as a spectator, and although the first inclination was to squeeze it, that is unfortunately not allowed. So, the tactile experience of quilted and batted canvas, amply embroidered with acrylic paint and textile hardener, presented itself like a heavenly coloured dreamscape, suitable for snoozing, but resting and dreaming there is also denied!
Abstract Thinkers
Working abstractly presents some serious thought for viewers who don’t think that way, or don’t want to think that way, or are afraid of its detachment from what we consider ‘reality’, however, that doesn’t much deter abstract thinkers who are busy expressing the nature of materials, the possibilities of numerous meanings, or the various qualities of colour and form. Take for example this piece, (I’m sorry I didn’t collect the artist’s name), a wonderful study in texture and colour, which in some ways defies definition but will likely mean something new every day. Although its depth is thin, its collage-like overlapping suggest a world beyond of distance and close-up, and all kinds of fibre circumstance. It’s a hard world to enter but provides freedoms of thinking absent from common reality. Some people want something to match the couch, but others want a conversation piece, and the latter is served by pieces that are original and make you think. This fits that scene admirably. It’s subtle and quiet, and mysterious.
Stuffed and Sewn
With the advent of AI in its latest fashion we are in some ways endangered by its propensity to obliterate the personal and original expression of individual artists. At present that factor hasn’t invaded three dimensional pieces like most of those in this festival, and this piece in particular escapes that possibility. It is stuffed and sewn and has depth. It also brings us messages in its unique format. Ideas like ‘Save The Forest’, ‘Watch Out for The Amazon’, or ‘The Earth Needs its Canopy’, and many other admonitions about the state of the world’s environment. What is unique to me is other formats to express these ideas are rather repetitive posters and other printed images. In comparison, this canopy for the earth is 3D, and has the fibre substance of cloth and stuffing, probably akin to quilting, and for that reason catches your attention. Also, and perhaps for our further edification, the theme reflects the times.
I likely wouldn’t have attended this exhibition!
It is likely appropriate for such a huge exhibition to have a parting and significant comment about overall perception. I likely wouldn’t have attended this exhibition without the encouraging invite we received because being busy I would have judged the title and perhaps have decided it wasn’t for me. Upon having the privilege of being there in person I was shocked and amazed about what I would have missed by turning it down. The reason I say this is the whole exhibition was enlightening about another form of artistic expression, and my understanding of the dimensions of fibre and textile arts is now considerably increased. With all this in mind, and a need for brevity in a blog, I will have included above and below a composite of some of the works exhibited for your further study. Now the shutdowns are over, and this great exhibition is back in action, we should be sure to visit again next year.
Peter Marsh, February 7, 2024
Blogger’s Note:
This was a vast exhibition and as a result I neglected to collect the names of artists, and at the time I had no idea I would need them for a blog showing their work. I think this blog was worthwhile in as much as lacking in names of artists out of the 426 pieces exhibited, it may be strong encouragement for those who are intrigued by the work to attend the next exhibition. Here is the website link for this past exhibition. It has a large amount of information.
https://www.worldofthreadsfestival.com/festival.html
