The Fabric Trail … Inner Journeys
An exhibition by SAlt — South Australian living textiles
By Julie Haddrick
The artists’ unique and highly personal responses to the five themes of “inner journeys” — the physical, emotional, spiritual, creative and the journey of discovery — mirror the diversity of interpretations and responses found in us all. Consider the power of a physical journey to expose oneself — to perhaps challenge or influence our thinking. Connecting us with sounds, colours or smells, tactile experiences, memories or emotions, the resulting responses are opportunities to connect with a changing sense of self.
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These physical journeys influence and impact our spiritual and emotional lives and lead to creative responses to new situations. It doesn’t matter who or where we are or where we sit in the world, finding our identity, creative or spiritual home can be a lifelong and very personal journey. Some people never look and some may never find, but these six artists used fabric and thread to express where they’re travelling in this bigger picture. Each SAlt member learnt things about themselves, embraced their stories and experiences, shared knowledge, emotions and skills to refine, critique and celebrate their differences.
This exhibition reveals and at times confronts the concealed power of an inner journey.
SAlt (South Australian living textiles) is a group of six independent textiles practitioners whose work is very different, yet united by the fabric trail of ideas, friendship and fabrics that connects them. They are independent but not alone. Collaboratively the SAlt group sets challenges to inspire, explore, extend, respond to, critique and reflect on each theme and they enjoy the stimulation and challenges of creating a fresh, new and cohesive body of textiles work.
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For the six members — Judi Bushby, Suzanne Gummow, Julie Haddrick, Francie Mewett, Sarah Bell Smith and newcomer Wendy Thiele — this is the second exhibition and each artist has created five wall quilts. Each artist will hang their five works together as a collection. Different connections will unite each display, be it graphic, technical similarities, colour connections, visual linking or thematic symbolism. This “Fabric Trail” journey has led them to what has been a much more personally challenging theme — that of their inner journeys.
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Touch the earth lightly by Julie Ann Haddrick
An aboriginal phrase “Touch the earth lightly” inspired Shirley Erena Murray (NZ) along with her friend and music composer Colin Gibson, to write a hymn about man’s destructive treatment of the earth. This favourite hymn, like my Christian faith, inspires me to be the best person I can be, to be mindful, making low-impact and sustainable choices and humanitarian, ethical decisions. In many ways, my art is integral to this and echoing the song, the floating feather touches the earth lightly, leaving merely a shadow.
(Hymn used with permission by Hope Publishing)
EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
Pomegranate — the ancient fruit of the gods by Francie Mewett
From earliest times the pomegranate has been the fruit of fertility, of death, birth and eternal life. In other cultures it is also known as a symbol of marriage, abundance and prosperity. The background was hand-stitched and then extra layers of embroidery and beading added. Lastly the acrylic painted appliqué was sewn on.
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JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
Amity by Wendy Thiele
This quilt is about discovering and re-discovering relationships which have sustained me and provided mutual knowledge, esteem, affection and respect in my time of need and crisis as I made my own profound journey with breast cancer. Machine-pieced, raw-edge appliqué and machine quilted using vintage Kimono fabrics.
EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
Taj Mahal by Suzanne Gummow
The Taj Mahal’s perfect proportions and exquisite craftsmanship have been described as a vision, a dream, a poem, a wonder, the jewel in India’s architectural diadem. It was widely believed the Taj Mahal was designed to represent an earthly replica of one of the houses of paradise. Translucent white marble softly glows in the dawn, dusk and moonlight (I have seen all of these). Closer inspection reveals delicate designs and beautiful calligraphy, inlaid with coloured stone. Viewing, looking and absorbing the Taj Mahal was an extremely emotional time, one that will never leave me.
EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
For Marilyn by Judy Bushby
Newly diagnosed, there was a glimmer of hope for survival — for pancreatic cancer, a very small glimmer. For almost four years my very dear friend battled this horrible disease. Unfortunately she lost her fight in September 2015. Reading the eulogy she wrote herself not long after diagnosis was an honour, albeit a very difficult one. Orange gerberas were her favourite flower. She was taken way too early — RIP.
Indigo textiles, kimono silks, free machined and hand stitch.
JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
Search for Peace by Sarah Bell Smith
I had a high-stress job for the last 12 months and would often be working 12 or more hours a day. I was searching for something I could work on on a small scale and that I would find peaceful and therapeutic. My small samples enabled me to find some inner peace during a very tiring and stressful time. Hand-dyed cotton, commercial fabric, o-rings and wool with hand stitching.
