'To Great Lengths' - Gallery 159, Brisbane

Suzy Furness was the Winner of both ‘The Best in Show’ (see exhibit 17) and the ‘Complex Weavers Award’ (see exhibit 16) with two wonderful pieces in the exhibition.

1. "60's Jazz" 31cm x 345cm by Monique van Nieuwland

Handwoven, Hand Dyed, Felted Wool on an 8 Shaft Countermarch Loom

Artist Statement
The inspiration for this piece comes from the 1960's textured fashion fabrics which often used bright colours and bold plaid designs. The result is an open interlacing weave structure, felted into a soft flowing fabric suitable for scarves. There is a transition of colour in the length from teal to plum red.

2. "Like Nature, Weavers Grow To Great Lengths" 37cm x 226cm by Beatrice Jackson 

Handwoven, Shibori Dyed Tencel on an 8 Shaft Floor Loom

Artist Statement
Weavers are closer to nature than they realise. From the moment the "weaving seed" is sown, weavers cannot get enough of the nourishment they need. Some shoot to the top, straight away. Others are slower. But with encouragement, and their ideas fertilised they suddenly find themselves able to stand tall and bloom. My work expresses my love of nature, which continuously provides me with inspiration. Shibori allows me to achieve this. The vine and leaves are in stitched shibori, growing through the rich tropical foliage which is expressed in folded arashi shibori.

                       
                                        Detail Exhibit 2

3. "Midnight Blues" 46cm x 250cm by Wendy Cartwright

Handwoven Wool, Silk and Mohair – Boulevarde weave woven on 6 shafts - Countermarch Loom

Artist Statement
Inspiration for this piece was the weave. As this is a double sided weave, quite different on each side, it is very useful for making unique garments.

4. "Shades of Autumn" 71cm x 250cm by Wendy Cartwright

Handwoven Wool, Silk, Cotton and Mohair – broken crow weave woven on 4 shafts - Countermarch Loom

Artist Statement
The inspiration for this piece was the yarn. I bought the lovely spaced dyed mohair in this fabric about a year ago. When I heard that Weavers Forum was holding an exhibition for yardage I decided to weave my fabric with this mohair.

5. "Sunrise" 37cm x 220cm by Gail Campbell

Handwoven Cotton on an 8 Shaft Table Loom

Artist Statement
Touring the colourful land of the Kimberly for six weeks, I have come home to use some of the images for my work. Inspiration came from a sunrise on the 80 Mile Beach, with reflections on the water and clouds. I chose the weave and colour to catch the shadow effect.

6. "Rockface" 52cm x 290cm by Gail Campbell

Handwoven Wool on an 8 Shaft Table Loom

Artist Statement
Touring the colourful land of the Kimberly for six weeks, I have come home to use some of the images for my work. Inspiration came from a rock wall at Chamberlain Gorge, the jagged blocks, shape and colour. I chose shadow weave and colour to catch the angle effect.

7. "Blue Water" 53cm x 232cm by Pam McDougall

Handwoven Wools, Silk and Superfine Merino Sliver on a Computer- assisted Loom

Artist Statement
This fabric length is woven in double cloth to represent above and below the surface of the water. Objects in the water appear on the surface or partly hidden below it. In the fabric, unspun wool can be seen on the surface or trapped between the layers. The felting process distorts the surface of the fabric to reflect the way that wind produces ripples. The warp fibres used are wool and the weft is silk yarn. Superfine merino sliver is used for the inserted texture. The fabric length was felted and then overdyed using Lanasol dyes.

8. "Whipped Cream" 80cm x 300cm by Pam McDougall

Handwoven Wool, Cotton, Cashmere and Silk Fabric on a Computer- assisted Loom

Artist Statement
The inspiration for this piece stemmed from the Christmas baking spree - we add sauces to meats, icing to cakes, and cream to fresh fruits. I have woven something cool and luscious in texture which begs for something added. In this case the fabric palate is waiting for the garment creator to add the spice. The warp fibres used are wool, Cashmere and cotton. The weft is wool, Cashmere and bias cut silk strips.

                                                                                                      Detail Exhibit 8

9. "From Here - to Eternity" 70cm x 206cm by Jenny      Jackett

Handwoven Cotton, Rayon/Acrylic, Silk Yarn and Silk Fabric on a 4 Shaft Floor Loom

Artist Statement
I constructed this weft from silk fabric to include representational colours of our environment and the sun. Follow the story line upward from the dark earth through buildings and greenery to conglomeration and breakdown - and then a second start. The red bloodlines of life continue almost to the top where just vapour and sun remain.

11. "Spring Rains" 0cm x 400cm by Jan Herlinger

Handwoven Wool, Hi Twist Wool and Silk on a Jack Floor Loom

Artist Statement
My inspiration for this length of cloth was my new garden - all in bloom in shades of blue and green after the spring rains. I went to great lengths to dye the wools, wind them and rewind them and then play with them against each other to attain the marvellous colour interactions of my garden.

                                                                                                      Detail Exhibit 11

12. "Shallows" 65cm x 250cm by Denise Stevens

Handwoven Cotton and Viscose - 8 Shaft Dobby Loom

Artist Statement
My surrounds, where the clear waters of Jervis Bay Marine Park gently lap beaches of the whitest sands, were my inspiration. I played with the delicate colours and huck lace weave, for which I have a particular fondness, to find a representation of the changing textures of water and sand. The draft was developed to incorporate changing densities in the huck patterning. The areas representing water are the most open and lace-like, gradually changing to more dense variations as the water becomes shallower and the sand begins to dominate. Two wefts of different colours were clasped at varying positions across the width of the fabric to enhance the effect.

13. "Memories of Canberra" 48cm x 450cm by Audrey Ford

Handwoven Shadow Weave in Fine Wool on a 16 Shaft Computer- assisted Loom

Artist Statement
The wool used for this piece was sold to weavers in Canberra after the textiles used for the furniture in the new Parliament House were completed. After bringing the yarn back to WA I decided it was time to weave it. This fabric is destined to be a vest.

14. "Arms through Shawl" 70cm x 200cm by Bev Bills

Handwoven Wool, Mohair and Acrylic on a 4 Shaft Loom

Artist Statement
This shawl length is woven in twill, threaded randomly with even spaces left in the reed, to provide a more open weave effect. Weaving is or can be a very complex procedure and over the years I have learnt to explore and play with the yarn, in warp and weft. As the saying goes "you need to be warped to weave" and correct at that! Often simplicity rules the threads. Twill has drape and allows me a freedom of weave in a random fashion. This length has been designed to be worn in a multitude of ways - as a shawl (arms through) upside down as well, a wrap and as a poncho, with head through the slits.

                                                                                                      Detail Exhibit 14

15. "Spirit of the Cloth" 38cm x 240cm by Kay Faulkner

Handwoven Cotton Triacetate/Acrylic on a 24 shaft computer assisted Loom

Artist Statement
Inspired by ethnic textiles, this textile combines elements of dyeing and patterned weaving. There are aspects of commonality between both techniques, in much the same way that there are between ethnic groups, and yet there is also diversity both within ethnicity and this piece. Two repeats have been provided within this meterage. In this original design, both dye pattern and weave pattern are based on a similar draft. The woven band repeat is made up of two bands of different sizes separated and unified by the dye pattern.

16. “Influences” 39cm x 225cm by Suzy Furness

Handwoven Silk on an 8 Shaft Computer-assisted Loom

Artist Statement
One of the interesting effects that a weaver can achieve with shibori is the interaction of the various layers of colour that occur with the gradual take up of all the draw threads over a number of dye baths and discharge baths.  The final indigo dyeing acts as the unifying agent giving a cohesive whole.

                                                                                                      Detail Exhibit 16

17. “Stochastic versus Deterministic” 21cm x 220cm by Suzy Furness

Handwoven Silk on a 16 Shaft Computer-assisted Loom

Artist Statement
These are the mathematically equivalent terms for random and predictable.   This piece has a randomly dyed warp, combined with a set coloured weft.  It portrays our everyday life in which we have random events (warp colour) occurring within our predictable everyday habits (sole weft colour) and rhythms (weave structure).

                                                                                                          Detail Exhibit 17

18. "The Lines of Life” 47cm x 230cm by Suzy Furness

Handwoven Silk on a 16 Shaft Computer-assisted Loom

Artist Statement
It is interesting to think about where the lines of our lives take us. Some end abruptly whist others meander in and out sometimes combining with others to give a deeper experience.

19, 20, 21 "Wind, Time, Tide" by Maryann Stamford

19. “Coral” 53cm x 200cm

Handwoven Linen and Acrylic on a 16 Shaft Computer-assisted Loom

20. “Sand” 53cm x 200cm

Handwoven Linen and Mercerised Cotton on a 16 Shaft Computer-assisted Loom

21. “Rock” 53cm x 200cm

Handwoven Linen and Cotton on a 16 Shaft Computer-assisted Loom

Artist Statement
The three elements of nature - wind, time and tide - are invisible as nouns but their effects are observed by all species. Each has power far greater than their four letters may suggest. They can be life giving or they can destroy. Together, they leave their marks reminding us of their presence.