Canberra

This is the stunning sculpture which greets visitors to Canberra airport, at ground level. Sorry, don't know who the artist is.

Public art

Does public art gladden your soul? I love it; it makes me pause, look, think, admire, question, smile, enjoy, frown all valid responses depending on what I am looking at. Sorry no names for these 2 found in Canberra, but I was really drawn to the nature of the material as well as the design.

And this is glorious too!

Centenary tapestry

Valerie Kirk, pictured above is a tapestry weaver and lecturer and has undertaken many commissions in her time at the Australia National University. The Centenary tapestry is a community project and we were given a private viewing. Here it is still on the frame.

Many Canberra landmarks have been woven and stitched into the scene.

People came from far and wide to add their effort to the work.

Their names will be tagged in the back of the work, which has the wonderful texture of all the thread ends.
 

War Memorial

The War Memorial in Canberra has many textile items in its collection and some are on display. My friend Kate and I followed a list compiled by Diane Firth for the Ozquilt Network conference program. The helpful guides directed us to others and enhanced the experience with stories.

Did this parcel make it to Mt Isa, a former location for our family also?

This is a fabric belt of 1,000 stitches made by a Japanese mother, for good luck, for her son as he went off to war.

Unfortunately not so lucky.

This detail photo is of a very thread-bare flag and one of the stars of the Southern Cross. In parts there are more conservator's stitches than threads left.

 

11th of the 11th

Remembrance Day is something we always marked with red paper poppies when I was at school. Today these poppies are still available and if you are out and about you may be able to get one.
 

Changi quilts

Nothing quite prepared me for the simple, poignant beauty of the Changi quilts on display at the National War Memorial. They are in low light but with the press of a button, illuminated for a brief time. Exposure to too much light is damaging.

The quilt is displayed on its 'side' so the photos are in the correct orientation. I had seen the Girl Guide quilt at the Brisbane V&A exhibition a couple of months ago, but this was more exquisite.

 

Canberra

Last Friday I was in Canberra. It was a fine, sunny day and the pre-conference program was well under way. A behind the scenes look at some textiles at the National Gallery was great, but no photos were allowed of this or even in the gallery itself. So instead here are some from the National War Memorial.

Looking towards Parliament.

A beautiful flowering gum planted where Queen Elizabeth had planted a tree many years before.

 

National Arboretum

This is the cutest children's playground with gum nut pod connecting hubs between the slides and climbs.

The Magpies gathered around when one of our party began feeding them apple pieces.

Great rock walls throughout the complex.

This texture is from the Cork Oak tree. A plantation of the corks is one of the fully established areas planted in 1917 by Water Burley Griffin. It was beautifully cool under the foliage.

A nice time to make new friends L-R Kate, Deborah and me.

 

National Arboretum

Post conference tour of the National Arboretum was a first time visit for me. The visitors centre architecture is striking and reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright and 1 of his designs, but it certainly went beyond that. It was very windy outside, so good to shelter inside.

Diane Firth was in her element explaining what we were looking at in the landscape. Hang onto those hats!

Shot through glass but clearly visible, the cloud front obscuring the big blue sky.

 

Private artist talks

The conference organised by Ozquilt Network was very well done, with a great program of talks, behinds the scenes viewing of textiles and introduction to the uniqueness of Canberra, which was celebrating the 100th anniversary of establishment as the capital. Above Deborah Weir explains the concept behind her quilt Willy-willy. Deborah travelled from the USA to be at the conference.

Canberra based artist Diane Firth talks about her work City of Trees which had net panels casting lovely shadows as it was hung away from the wall.

 

Art Quilt Australia

The Art Quilt Australia 2013- people, place and nation exhibition opened on the weekend in Canberra at Craft ACT, London Circuit and continues to December 14. I was so surprised to see I was the 'cover girl' for the catalogue with my detail image of Flood #1 River rising! I think this is a first and rounds out a great 2013.

Valerie Kirk, above was the curator of the exhibition and the call from Ozquilt Network, the organisation with the vision for this exhibition, was for larger pieces which looked wonderful in the gallery space.

Below on L part of Deborah Weir's Willy-willy with Flood #3 Flotsam.

L Boat People by Helen Gray with Flood#1 River rising. The quilts were displayed beautifully within a grouping, paired or individually. Well worth a visit if you are in Canberra and it is free to enter the Craft ACT galleries.

Art Quilt Australia: people, place and nation

The Art Quilt Australia: people, place and nation opens on Friday November 1 in Canberra at the Craft ACT craft and design centre and runs until December 14. This juried exhibition is from
Ozquilt Network the Australian organisation for art quilters and a conference will be held in conjunction with the exhibition opening. The good news is that you don't have to be a member to attend the conference. The website has the details and there is still time to register.
A detail of my quilt Flood #1- river rising has been used on the invitation [top R corner].

Print Pizazz

We looked at many options for printing, stamping and stencilling in this workshop and as always beautiful creations appeared on the walls around me. This is a small selection.

Even our clean up cloths became art cloth. Thanks to my students for a very inspiring day.

L-R Jenny, Kay, Margaret, Judy, Anieta and Wilma [plus Ruth]