Today it was
An inspired Australian weaver, who declares "no boundaries!" in her virtuoso three dimensional complex weaving, based on early studies in Italy of the Jacquard structure.
She took the courses in Florence, and studied Jacquard texture as well as velvet weaving, which is more than warp and weft. Here's a Florentine artwork depicting weaving, and the equipment for making the punch cards which are the underlying mechanism of Jacquard weaving structure.
Before she started her presentation, she paid tribute to the original peoples of Australia and the art and reverence for the land they bequeathed and continue to live. It was lovely, she acknowledged the debt today's Australia owes them.
She herself has done production weaving, industrial style, and her mother was herself a production weaver and designer in the Australian textile industry.
Here's a young Melanie at work, alongside a shot of her mother's working notebook.
She was an early teacher of weaving to Melanie, who took to it rapidly.
She's fearless in her approach, from traditional two dimensional weaving to three dimensions, with multiple threads, silk, clear filament, washi paper, whatever works for the concept.
She uses computers where they're useful for design, and pencil and paper, too. And she delves into the math of woven structure in the course of working in three dimensions.
At times her approach is almost mystical as she lets the materials do what they want as well as what she wants. She develops a relationship with each piece. She's very ready to acknowledge the influence of other weavers and painters, a generous approach.
Here she's showing a woven paper piece. The image is blurry because she was waving it around!
Bottom left is woven washi paper.
She was an inspirational speaker, equally on point with avant garde art weaving and industrial production. She's currently interested in how the friction in weaving can literally generate energy for use, and is following researchers currently working on the concept. It fits in with her concern for the earth and reverence for materials.
This was an entirely new and astonishing aspect to this viewer. I suspect she's always going to explore new and astonishing work.
Hello Boud, I'm your newest follower. Thanks to the kind comment you left on my blog, I found yours. :-) I really enjoy blogs where people are sharing their daily experiences with neat photos they have taken. It looks like you post daily and that is an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your blog and for your kind comment on mine. Happy New Year to you. John
ReplyDeleteWelcome, John, and happy New Year to you too! I do blog pretty much daily, because I folded two blogs into one, and I'm still producing content enough for two, but it's less confusing for readers.
ReplyDeleteYou sure know your arts, and foods too, I think.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work by a true artiste!
ReplyDeleteAnother eye-opener. I don't think of weaving, and textiles in general, as 3-D - but of course they are!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful person in several ways - thank you for the introduction to her.
Chris from Boise (needing a bit of hygge myself as the temperatures begin to bottom out here too. Yay soup!)
Just gorgeous! I wish I had better hand-eye and spatial abilities...
ReplyDeleteAC, thank you. I've had a lot more professional recognition and awards in art than in cooking! But both are important to us all.
ReplyDeleteDebra, yes, her sheer understanding is a thing to marvel at. She's operating on a different track than most of us, while being friendly and generous. I became a fan.
E, I often marvel at the skills and sheer brain power of people like Melanie.
Chris, I've been wondering about you and the current frigid weather and hoping it soon relents. You're always so open to new ideas in here, love to read what you have to say.
It's always good to learn new things. I've always liked the end product, but never given much thought to the process. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteThe process is an important part of why artists do what they do. So I'm glad you are encouraged to consider it.
ReplyDelete"She's currently interested in how the friction in weaving can literally generate energy for use..."
ReplyDeleteWow! I really am not sure quite what that means but it does indeed sound intriguing.
Would have liked to see other finished pieces since the details were so intriguing.
ReplyDeleteYou can go to her website, address on the intro pic, to see more.
ReplyDeleteIn fact it would be good fir any blogistato look there, if you want more of her research and the resulting work. It's mind-blowing.
ReplyDeleteWow! Interesting post. It is very inspiring to see weaving that is that gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work by such a talented artist.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of weaving friction adding to the world supply of energy. I wonder if I could fill a AAAA cell in a day! I have some device around here powered by a AAAA cell. Sadly, I had to buy a four pack to replace the one battery needed.
ReplyDeleteWeaving friction generating energy - that's a novel concept.
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