Art 'n Tartan Wearable Arts: update

I've had to write a bit of a blurb for Art 'n Tartan Wearable Arts which briefly explained my concept behind my design and the materials I've used. This is what I wrote...

“Honouring my Scottish Roots – My Family Tree”

By Julia Prentice, first-time entrant

Section: Dressed to Kilt

My creation is in honour of my Scottish Ancestry and I have chosen to make a tree to represent family and the connection with life, history, strength and growth.

Trees are symbols of physical and spiritual nourishment and growth, transformation and liberation. They also represent stability, shelter, security, sustenance and fertility. All of which are essential in life.

My “tree-trunk” is handmade paper using flax, kauri leaves and banana palm (abaca) grown in my backyard. The leaves are made from tartan fabric which is similar to the Clan Davidson and Clan Cameron of my family ancestry.

~Size of item: 6ft high (max) by 3ft wide~

~o0o~

Plaster-casting 

My niece is going to me my model. I purchased a plastic half body (front) from Trade but still needed to take a plaster cast of Katie's back which i can work the paper pulp on to.

 Layering the plaster bandage...

 ...then applying plaster I'd pre-made and had
 "cooking" while I applied the bandage.

 Finally, another layer of plaster bandage.

It wasn't too long before it had "set" enough to carefully remove.

Ta-da! My first time plaster casting someone's torso.
 I've been the model when I've done plaster casting
 (at TLC campus October last year) so it was quite
different to be doing the casting this time.

Paper pulp Preparation

I've cooked up to large batches of plant fibres

There's a mixture of flax and banana palm in here.
My neighbour has a kauri tree in their back yard and had a
 branch drop the other day. She knows I use kauri for my soap
and paper-making so that branch will go in the next lot of pulp.

Inspirational ideas
I'm always on the hunt for visual inspiration. Here's a few images I found on the internet that I'm like and thinking about incorporating them into my design.

I love the laced-up effect and from a practical aspect think this will get around the issue of putting on the tree. I'll need to reinforce the edges for the eyelets and plan on using a binders tape for strength. 

 I'm looking at making a mask for my model to wear.
It'll be my place of starting/warming up before
commencing on the main trunk and branches.

I could incorporate my model's arm's as branches.

 or I could have roots/branches off my models arms

...or I could make a wrist cuff like this one.

 I definitely plan on extending roots
 from the base to the trunk...

and want the paper to resemble bark.

Now to work out my hours
 I've spent on this project to date..

Time: 7 hours (24th - 26th May)

Textiles & Tapestry - Community Project

Three years and one month - that's the duration of time it's taken to complete the Whangarei Community Tapestry and on Sunday the 22nd May we held a "Cutting Off" Ceremony at The Bach Art Gallery and shop. You can see more photos of the Cutting Off Ceremony on the Whangarei Community Tapestry blog

 The Ceremonial Scissors

Marilyn Rea-Menzies (right), from Hamilton was asked to help with the Cutting Off and preparation for hanging. Marilyn has been commissioned to make many tapestries all over New Zealand over the years. Some are in public spaces and many are in private homes. 

Agnes Hauptli (on left) is a weaver from the Far North. Agnes is a self-taught weaver who started to play around on a rigid heddle loom in 1992. Today she works from a purpose built workshop that houses several looms, from 8shaft countermarch to 16 and 32 shaft compu dobby, a huge 16 shaft drawloom and a TC-1 Jacquard loom.

The first cut - Beverly/s children were invited to do the honours!

I was chief photographer for the night a- you can read all about it HERE.  I'm planning on turning the blog into a book and have been researching how to go about doing that.

~o0o~

The Grand Unveiling will be held at The Forum North at 10:00am on Saturday 11th of June 2016

 The loom is looking very empty now....

....ready for the next project!

Time: 4 hours (22 May)

When some things don't quite turn out like you hoped...

 Ricky and I made concrete leaf imprinted stepping stones at the beginning of the month. It was my very first time making up and using concrete so I hoped I was doing it right! I bought some materials from Mitre 10 and we encased rhubarb leaves with polythylene before pressing over the concrete.  

 

Though they're not perfect I was pretty happy how they they turned out.

Then I had this great idea about making a bird feeder. We reused the polythylene and mound up river sand to give a concave shape, then lay a leaf over that before applying a layer of concrete. Lastly, we used a dowel to make the holes for hanging.

 Sadly, mine broke in half. It was too thin around the centre!

 I'm not convinced its work as they feeder is very heavy and not really suitable for hanging. Oh well, you live 'n learn, don't you??

 ~o0o~

CERAMICS

My first time glazing was a bit of a "hit 'n miss" too...

I'm a bit disappointed with my numbers too.

 I have "sanded back" the remaining numbers so I'm interested to see how they turn out after firing.

 This is using a crackle glaze and I like the effect. Shame the number one broke though!

 For my mum and Dad's house - I think I'll mount them onto a piece of driftwood or something similar. 

I'm really enjoying experimenting with clay and surprised that I'm not wanting to "throw in the towel" because things haven't ended up the way I'd hoped. A couple of years ago I'm sure I would have - it just goes to show how far I've come on my creative journey with TLC!

~o0o~

Time: 12 hours-ceramics (3 hours on Thursday 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th May) 
4 hours-concrete leaves (2 hours on Wednesday 11th and 18th May)

Printmaking and planning...

Another area of interest for me is printmaking. I went to the Quarry Arts Centre to purchase more clay and took the opportunity to talk with Jasmine at Te Kowhai Print Trust about attending workshops in Term 2. I'm hoping to get to the Wednesday weekly workshop which runs from 9.30 am-2 pm and plan on starting the second week of May. I am wanting to continue developing my printmaking skills and building up confidence. The Te Kowhai Print Studio is a good place to learn as it has all the equipment I'll need as well as the help and advice from more experienced printmakers.

Textiles/Tapestry - Major 3

The Whangarei Community Tapestry Project, supported by The BACH (Basin Arts and Crafts House) has provided a great opportunity for people to experience and appreciate the traditional art of weft weaving on a vertical loom here in Whangarei.

As the project is drawing to the end of its 3 year duration I have expressed interest in designing a second project which was presented to the (BACH) Committee for consideration at the last meeting. Two of the Committee members, our Chairperson, and one the BACH's founding members, took my propsal to the WDC for consideration. We hope to hear back soon if it's been accepted then I can get the ball rolling and apply for funding to purchase the needed materials . 

Time: 22 hours - researching historic information and photos at the library, researching costings/availibily of materials online, brainstorming, and drawing up of and presentation of the project proposal for the WDC for consideration.

(PS..Andrew, I will email you a copy of the Propsal)

Ceramics - Major 2

The Reyburn Arts Studio at the Town Basin holds creative 

workshops over the week and it's here that I've started 

attending a weekly pottery group called "The Firebirds"

The group meets from 4-8pm on Tursday's and the firing 

of ceramics can be done in the kiln room (behind the tree)

 for a small cost. I really like going each week and get 

tips from the more experienced members along the way.

 I recently was given my own key so I am able to access

 the studio outside of the weekly group meeting

I've been working on a series of pottery numbers.

The numbers 18 and 70 are for mine and

 my parents houses respectively

One of The Firebird members brought in some textiles

 and found items for me to experiement with

 Just the 0 to do...

 Then I started on another series using tree bark

 to texture the clay....

..and I'm really enjoying doing these!

 I'll soon have sufficient to do a bisque firing

and have been learning how to use the kiln

and what the different firings mean.

 A couple of soap dishes - I'm loving the fern leaf imprint.

I'll lightly sand the edges after firing to smooth any roughness.

Time for the month of April: 15 hours (Ceramics)