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Latest Exhibition: ‘Exposed: textiles in the open’ by Fibre Art Wales

Fibre Art Wales is delighted to announce their first ever ‘textiles in the open’ exhibition in the inspiring grounds of The National Botanic Gardens.

Responding to the challenge to create new works inspired by the flora, fauna and architecture of the Gardens, each artist has relished stretching their practice into new arenas. For the first time the artists have all had to consider the practicalities of creating fibre based work designed to literally weather Carmarthenshire rain and sunshine.  Resins, glass and other man made materials have been employed by some to offer protection, whilst other artists have chosen to embrace the inevitable degradation by creating works that will intentionally evolve other the course of the exhibition.

Conceptually each artist has each taken a different route exploring what the Gardens, nature, ‘exposure to the elements’ or ‘outside’ means to them, whether it be themes of natural decay or the healing powers of plants or colour.   Lisa Porch has been on a remarkable journey of research, stemming from finding a discarded plant label for ‘Miss Wilmott’s Ghost’ on a pathway in the Gardens.  Many plants have evocative names that pique the curiosity, but few of us actually delve into the history of such names.  Miss Wilmott was a dedicated Edwardian horticulturist who devoted her life to this passion.  When invited to garden parties, Miss Wilmott had the delightful habit of secretly dropping seeds into the gardens of her hosts, who would find in months to come the surprising arrival of mysterious plants…. Miss Wilmott’s ghost.  Lisa has taken this idea of leaving a memorial of oneself, and created a striking installation of sixty stitched and collaged labels staked into the ground in homage to Miss Wilmott

Fibre Art Wales is delighted that its patron, noted artist Mary Lloyd Jones is exhibiting one of her famous ‘dyes on cloth’ paintings with the group for the first time.  The exhibited work references the legend of Llyn-y-Fan. The story, set in a lake high in the mountains of Carmarthenshire is pre iron age, yet in this area near the lake there continued until recent memory a long history of skilled doctors who all claimed to be descended from the lady of the lake. The herbal remedies recorded by the sons and descendants of the fairy from the lake are kept in the National Library, and extracts from these texts are included in the painting.

The exhibition also features work from Fibre Art Wales members Ruth McLees, Bethan Ash, Claire Cawte, Alison Moger, Ruth Harries, Michelle Griffiths, Kathryn Campbell Dodd, Louise Bird and Laura Thomas. Click here to see the artists’ statements.

The exhibition opens at The National Botanic Garden of Wales on the 10^th Sept and closes on the 30^th November 2010.

Alongside it we also have a complementary exhibition in our Courtyrad Gallery, 10 years of textiles, 10 years of growth, organised by the West Wales School of the Arts.