By Karina Devine
Textile artist Barbara Stephenson will exhibit her sculptural textile artworks at Warwick Art Gallery during Jumpers and Jazz in July in her exhibition titled Safeguard. Barbara uses discarded woollen blankets and clothing to create her unique and richly coloured fibre artworks. She capitalizes on evoking feelings of cosiness and comfort from the viewer to highlight her message to reduce waste created by fast fashion and our “throw away” culture.
Each beautiful piece is created by rolling, twisting and stitching strips of woollen fabric to form dense clumps and sweeping curves, a technique called Standing Wool rugmaking. This rug making technique was developed in the 1800’s to use up offcuts from English woollen mills. Traditionally the strips were stitched into decorative patterns, however, Barbara has adapted the technique in a more painterly way.
Barbara explains that her stylised landscapes are like memories of real or imagined scenes.
“Time seems to ebb, creating moments of stillness with shadowed light on the land and swirling flowing clouds above”, says Barbara, “In other pieces, the lines twist and flow like the strata of rocks or the ridges and valleys left by wind and water on sand and rock.”
The repeated circular shapes in Barbara’s works are evocative of seeds, seed pods, and flower posies. She has created a collection of semi abstract works inspired by nature to convey her passion and concern for the natural world and the impact of climate change. Barbara uses her creativity and imagination to share this message while at the same time using waste that would otherwise be discarded.
Barbara will be teaching a workshop during Jumpers and Jazz in July where participants can learn her standing wool technique and make a mini version of one of her pieces. The full day workshop will be on Friday 28 July. If you are short on time you can also join a fun, two hour “have a go class” with Barbara on Saturday 29 July.
Tickets for both are available at the Gallery or online at www.warwicktickets.com.au.
Warwick Art Gallery opens every day during the Jumpers and Jazz in July festival from 10am to 4pm.
Jumpers and Jazz in July begins on Thursday the 20 July and continues until Sunday the 30 July.
The full festival program is on the festival website www.jumpersandjazz.com.au
