The Art of Contemporary Fibre

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Circle Craft Gallery, "The Art of Contemporary Fibre," 2018

Circle Craft Cooperative is pleased to present “The Art of Contemporary Fibre” in their Gallery on Granville Island, curated by textile artist Kaija Rautiainen.

This exhibition features works of four internationally-known British Columbiam fibre artists: Lesley Richmond (Mixed Process Fibre); Kaarina Talvila (Silk Fabric); Yvonne Wakabayashi (Textile Sculpture); and, Angelika Werth (Deconstructed/Reconstructed Wearable Textiles).

Inspired by their surroundings, the artists create works that are both visually pleasing and thought provoking. Using a variety of textile techniques and employing traditional and innovative materials, their work enriches the dialogue of contemporary fibre.

About the artists:

Lesley Richmond (Mixed Process Fibre)

Lesley Richmond was born in Cornwall, England. Lesley now lives in Vancouver, BC. She received her art teachers training in London, England and her MEd in the USA. She taught in the textile arts program at Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC until 2003 while continuing her practice as a studio artist. Lesley now works full-time in her studio.

Lesley's work is in collections in the USA, Japan, Poland, Korea, and Canada. She has exhibited around the world, including: Game Changers: Fiber Art Masters and Innovators, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, USA (2014), as well as Crafts Embrace the World, Choengju International Craft Competition Winners, Korean Craft Museum, South Korea (2012).

Lesley is inspired by the architectural elegance of trees; tranquil and timeless. Lesley photographs trees, focusing on the intricacy of their branching structures and then prints these images on cloth, using a medium that creates a dimensional surface. She then eliminates selected background areas, leaving the structural images of trees as the dominant feature. The images are then painted with metal patinas and pigments. (lesleyrichmond.com)

Kaarina Talvila (Silk Fabric)

Originally from Toronto, Kaarina is now an enthusiastic Vancouver resident. She received her craft training at Capilano University in North Vancouver and has a previous geology degree from the University of Toronto. She is a fibre artist, designing and handcrafting silk evening bags in striking colours and strong forms, which are softened by the addition of tassels and vintage jewellery.Kaarina says, “In my work, I try to reflect the harmony and balance I so admire in traditional Japanese craft, as well as the geometry of art deco. It could be that my fondness for precise, geometric forms is a legacy from a previous career in computer mapping. My label ‘KOTI’ means ‘home’ in Finnish, which is a tribute to my Finnish mother, who taught me how to sew and to maintain exacting standards.” (kotidesigns.ca)

Yvonne Wakabayashi (Textile Sculpture)

Vancouver is an important part of the fabric of Yvonne’s life as she was born, raised, and educated there. Her Japanese heritage and the sea influence her textiles. The Japanese influences range between the teachings of Hiroyuki Shindo in the ancient art of Shibori, the special silks from a family mill in Gunma Prefecture, and the elegant qualities of simplicity and understatement learned from her mother. Moving toward sculptural forms, her work still encapsulates Shibori. Her art recreates the delicate and fragile beauty of sea life. In her own words, “I have been to the water’s edge and have collected memories which have become the inspiration for my art.”Yvonne’s work has been exhibited internationally and has received and been nominated for numerous awards and honours. (yvonnewakabayashi.com)

Angelika Werth (Deconstructed/Reconstructed Wearable Textiles)

Angelika Werth is a contemporary sculptor/designer working in fibre. Influenced by her time in Paris at Yves Saint Laurent, her theatrical garments are both stand-alone sculpture and wearable art. Meticulous craftsmanship, aesthetic beauty, and innovative design are the hallmarks of her work.Angelika’s work has been exhibited widely in Canada and abroad and is included in private collections from the BC Provincial Collection to the Cambridge Art Gallery in Ontario.She has received awards from the BC Arts Council, Canada Council, and won second price in an international exhibition in Chateau Chassy en Morvan, France. She is a 2008 recipient of a BC Creative Achievement Award. She also teaches at the Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson, BC. (angelikawerth.ca)