THE work of contemporary textile artist Dorothy Haig takes centre stage at the Warwick Art Gallery this month.
Dorothy’s Thread is My Connection with Other Worlds will open on 12 June with the display going through until 26 July.
A contemporary textile artist, Dorothy uses a variety of media and techniques to create artwork that is layered with meaning and reminiscence.
Her retrospective exhibition, Thread is My Connection with Other Worlds, reflects her quest to understand memory and honour the craftwork and domestic activity of women from the past to the present.
Thread is literally at the foundation of all textile work however Dorothy has approached the concept of thread on a more intricate level in this suite of works featuring several installation style pieces that invite the audience to spend time engaging with the fine details of pieces within the larger installation.
Laced with Place, an artwork incorporating a multitude of boxes, draws on Dorothy’s interest in both the visual arts and cultural heritage domains.
Dorothy has conceived her own definition for the embroidered recycled mosquito netting that originated in the settler communities of 19th and early 20th century Australia which she calls Ozzie Lace.
“I am inspired by the make-do traditions of thrift and functionality in Ozzie Lace,” Dorothy said.
“These pieces remind me of the resilience, innovation and originality can be related to both Ozzie Lace and the lives of those who made it.”
The collection of works called Memory Keepers honours grandmothers as the custodians of collective memory.
The shadow box style stories in this artwork examine the domestic activity and intermeshed roles of women by referring to their universally recurring positions as child, sister, friend, lover, wife, housekeeper, mother and grandmother.
Since completing a bachelor degree in visual art at the University of Southern Queensland in 2008 Dorothy has studied at a postgraduate level in distance mode from several universities around Australia.
The opportunity to develop themes on a higher academic level runs parallel with her growing interest, research and writings in local cultural heritage.
Warwick Art Gallery director Karina Devine is looking forward to displaying the complex installations that make up the exhibition.
“Dorothy’s artwork incorporates contemplative textile work with contemporary materials and installation techniques,” said Ms Devine.
“Viewing the exhibition will be a real experience as the display pushes the boundaries of traditional methods of installation.
“Dorothy’s work is inspired by themes that everyone can relate to such as making the most out of life or honouring the past.
“I urge gallery visitors to spend time with her installations to extract the full meaning from them.”
