Alba leucos a textile exhibition in white
Alba leucos: a textile exhibition in white Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts 19 August – 25 September 2011 An exhibition spilling out the doors, made from white yarns and fabrics. This is a collaborative exhibition between the members of Fibres and Fabrics, a group of people who meet regularly to use fabrics and yarns in the art/craft process. In Alba leucos (white - latin, white - greek) we are exploring different aspects of the human form. We are choosing to only use white which can mean either the absence of colour or the inclusion of all colours. Fibres and Fabrics Association Inc. is based in Townsville and was established in 1975. Currently there are over 100 members who encourage and facilitate members and others to increase their knowledge of fibre techniques – both traditional and contemporary and apply it in both traditional and creative ways.
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts 482 Flinders Street | PO Box 2394, Townsville, QLD, 4810 Ph/ Fax: (07) 4772 7109 | admin@umbrella.org.au | www.umbrella.org.au Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm & Sunday 9am - 1pm
umbrella studio contemporary arts
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Alba leucos is the group’s second collaborative exhibition. The first – Threads of Habitat (2008) was developed by members after applying for an exhibition at Pinnacles Gallery. The Director of the gallery Louise Allgood and exhibitions officer Anthony Edwards, encouraged the group to go away from quilts and framed works on the wall. They pushed the members to think beyond the tradition and to create one large installation. Following the success of this exhibition Alba leucos was planned. By limiting the colour pallet to white and asking the members to look at the human form, spirit and psyche it ensured the exhibition would be very different to the first and pushed members into a very different way of working.
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Developing the ideas At the first meeting members came along and ideas were brainstormed. How could the spirit of people be ref lected in white textiles? What could we do that could be worked on by a number of people? Ideas were shared and then a number of individuals took on the role of refining particular concepts. Some of the individuals then conducted workshops to show their chosen techniques and ideas. All the bits that were made at the workshops were then resolved into larger works, including the many works developed in Umbrella’s Studio Downstairs Studio in the four weeks prior to the installation.
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Installing
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The Exhibition White can mean either the absence of colour (paint) or the inclusion of all colours (light). White, in all its textures, densities and hues fills the interior space of Umbrella Studio. The form, spirit and psyche of people can be seen in the different works that have been created for this exhibition. The Vault Space is adorned with sculptural masks, the Main Space walls decorated with dozens of hanging tiles, embroidered hands, strung fl ags, woven hangings and a large spiral of circles. Dozens of spirit figures surround a collection of exquisitely costumed mannequins. There is a picnic set and clothes tree. In the tree hangs the small clothes of stick figures, who have left their clothes in the tree, and can be seen participating in the picnic. In the Access Space are an elaborate chandelier and a large dress created from plastic bottles wrapped and sewn together into a cascade of glimmering whites. The exhibition includes dozens of eclectic artworks installed around the gallery walls, engulfing the viewer in a dazzling display of handcrafts. This contemporary installation uses techniques that have been perfected over time, in the graceful, womanly arts. The opening itself became an installation with the serving of white food and white clothes, masks and hats worn by many attending.
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One of the series of works within the exhibition is titled DNA. We had in the past made inchies, which are a one inch square piece of fabric. Large pieces of fabric are made by layering, burning and overworking with machine and hand embroidery. These are then cut into one inch squares and swapped with members. Inspired by this idea, we decided to cover 3 inch square boards in any technique a member chose to represent themselves. They were then all placed in a box and randomly selected and then sewn into larger pieces. The squares became the building blocks representing the wide range of members’ personalities and skills.
Another series is the people throughout the gallery. A number of workshops were conducted showing how people can be made using sticks and pipe cleaners. Then with wrappings and clothing each member took their figure (or figures as many could not just stop at making one) to a different level and they all took on a personality of their own. Together as a group they interact with each other just as the members of Fibres and Fabrics do.
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The large dress and chandelier were made from cut plastic bottles, white fabric and thread. This work was made to be walked into, not worn. Nearly every person took part in making the bottles that were stitched and placed together to form the skirt of the dress. Looking closely there are small figures, fl owers and interesting stitches adding the fine detail to this large piece. The chandelier made from the same material was hung above the dress to give it an ethereal feel.
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Fibres and Fabrics wanted to show the work out of the gallery and so a trail of white was organised through the streets of Townsville’s city centre. 31 businesses were approached and appropriate white works were left in their shop to be displayed. White glasses at an optometrist, a figure with a bag at the bag shop, and a hat at the hat shop. Also some galleries took our white flags to hang up outside and these added a festive feel to the street. A small trail map brochure was printed and made available at each of the involved businesses, encouraging people to follow the trail through the city to look at these works. Sturt Street
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Flinders Street 2 1
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Ogden Street 31
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Umbrella Studio Studio2 Cafe Nova Pompom Rouge Utile Design Stephen de Jersey Architect 7. 489 Convenience Store
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8. Boheme Beauty and Body 9. Zen Den 10. World Vision 11. Lair 12. OrganiGallery 13. Brush and Press 14. Katelyn Aslett 15. Peach and Lola 16. Speckled Hen
Denham Street
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Stokes Street
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Stanley Street
Blackwood Street
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Ogden Street
17. Pat Molloy Jewellers 18. Plant Essentials 19. Stacey & Stacey Optometrist 20. Federation Place (Sturt St) 21. Bluebell 22. Zentosa 23. Lanigan Optometrist 24. Townsville Hatters 25. Hour Glass Jewellers
26. Sportspower 27. Norm Lewis Bagstop 28. Discount Jeans 29. Mary Who? Bookshop 30. City Cash Centre 31. Sylvia Ditchburn Fine Art Gallery
We wanted Alba leucos to be a collaborative work. No one has been singled out in this exhibition. There are no labels to identify the person who developed the ideas or any of the many creative makers who brought the ideas to reality, but we all know who we are and can point out to any interested person what figure we made, what 3 inch square we covered or what plastic bottle we stitched together. Alba Leucos is a creation of all the talented members of Fibres and Fabrics and it can be seen that it is the enjoyment of the making and the getting together that makes it a great group to be part of.
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Opening
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