Out of the Print Box

Now that my exhibition Fibre Reactive is open I thought I would explain some of the works over the next few weeks or so. And as I have been asked about the processes in the 12 pieces in the Out of the Print Box series, I thought I might start with these pieces.

Here again is the image of them in the exhibition. Each piece is 26cm x 35cm (10" x 14"), and worked on silk. They are each laced over a padded acid neutral card.



In May/June of this year I attended the Surface Design Association conference in Kansas City, MO. During that time I spent four days in a workshop with Kerr Grabowski titled Deconstructed Screen Printing (DSP), sometimes referred to as Breakdown Printing. I was already familiar with screen printing techniques, and with the DSP process, but thanks to Kerr, my knowledge and skills were considerably extended. Back in NZ I enthusiastically set about trying out some of the processes again. Whereas this may seem quite straight forward, there can often be quite a difference in what is done in a workshop, and what can be done afterwards. Equipment, products and, in particular, design input all seem to take a shift and almost everything needs to start again. No problem, I feel this allows for ones own slant on things to evolve.

I already had the idea of working 12 smaller pieces to be exhibited as a group in my exhibition, and the printing techniques seemed an ideal way to go. My commitment was 12 pieces in 12 weeks. That should be fun, and not too difficult. Yes, well, it was hard work and I got behind a couple of times but eventually did complete them all in the 12 weeks. I also need to confess that I started a total of 24 pieces, 12 of which I discarded somewhere along their journey, rejected, not good enough, or perhaps some disaster had occurred.

I used one silk screen frame which determined the overall size; used Procion MX dyes, Manutex (sodium alginate)and of course the fabrics were soaked in a Soda Ash solution. Occasionally I used some textile pigment/paint for that solid opaque outcome. There were a big variety of ways I did things, some I solved myself which lead me down different paths. Each piece had about four layers of applications; it was a matter of building on what had been achieved so far, until I felt each was finished.

I really like the print processes and now feel there is alot more to experiment with in the near future.

E(xhibition) Day

It is there! Last night was the opening of my exhibition, Fibre Reactive - New Work by Diana Parkes, at Expressions in Upper Hutt, NZ. This was an evening function and the anticipation mounted as the day progressed. I had not viewed the exhibition until just before everyone arrived, and my own first impressions were WOW! Almost two years of work displayed together, what a treat! And although I am very familiar with each individual piece I had never been able to view all the pieces together as a whole. Being a solo exhibition, and a large gallery space, it means that the works are well isolated from each other. It is a luxury to have work displayed like this as often we have to be content with our work crammed salon-style, with other works close on either side, and perhaps even above or below. The curator has done a great job and I am one happy exhibitor.

Between us, my friend Joan and I managed to take some photos of the opening. In due course my professional photographer will be taking a series of better images and I will eventually post some of these on my blog. In the meantime, here are some views:

Some of the crowd waiting for the gallery doors to open....

My installation called Fashioning. Non-wearable garments made from calico (muslin) and based on toiles. Each with patterning in an indigo coloured dye, and long arms with red hands! I asked for these pieces to be animated and was thrilled in the way they floated skywards. Actually there were five garments but after having got four up they couldn't work out where to put the fifth, so left it out. It pays not to be too precious about these things! I think they look great.

The 12 Out of the Print Box pieces.

The exhibition title, somewhat obscured.


General view.

another general view.

Dry Run

As part of the out-reach associated with my exhibition at Expressions I am to teach a two hour workshop with senior students at one of the local schools. Two hours is not very long to get something done, especially with dyeing techniques, so this week I have been doing a dry run to work out whether what I intended to teach was feasible.

The school has silk screens so I shall get them to paint and print a blank screen using Procion MX fibre reactive dyes mixed with water. These should dry fairly quickly (hopefully it will be a warm day). We will then screen these on to a soda ash prepared fabric using sodium alginate (Manutex). They will need to batch overnight and next day they can wash them out.

In preparation I did some printing with the dyes on to paper using a variety of objects. Then I prepared a screen with a dye wash and some dye printing. Once dry this was screened with the clear sodium alginate (Manutex). I shall also offer them some sodium alginate coloured with dye as well.

Here are the samples of printing, on paper.

My screen, dry and ready for screening. It looks quite pale at this stage.

The end result on calico (muslin). I think they should be impressed with the possibilities.

I shall also take a screen prepared with textures embedded into sodium alginate and demonstrate how to do repeat screenings (Breakdown Printing).

Just two days to go now.... I feel somewhat in limbo!

Upgraded Website

In October last year I cancelled my professional website which I considered to be quite expensive for my then needs. It was a left-over from my business. I had been able to manage the content of this website for quite sometime so had quietly accumulated some skills in website management. I then decided to build my own website using one of those free online website building programmes, and commenced what was nothing short of a major learning curve.

I have always thoroughly enjoyed twiddling on the computer and making new discoveries. In building my own website however, I had heaps to discover and manage. I did my best, and was relatively happy when I got everything on line. I left it at that point and occasionally returned to add/delete stuff etc.

As with most things, time moves on and we learn more and our skills improve until there comes a point when we look back and decide that things need an upgrade. It has been much easier this time as the original website structure is there, and just needed to be enhanced further. And when things don't work as planned I knew where to look, and hopefully correct an error I had overlooked... well, to be honest, it may have taken a couple of attempts!

I am feeling quite pleased with my efforts, I hope to add more after my exhibition opening this coming week. In the meantime you might like to have a peek www.dianaparkes.co.nz. Perhaps in another year I will be ready to upgrade again!

My new home page.

The older I get I find that most things need to be upgraded, or at least revisited, on a fairly regular basis. We are all on a journey of self-discovery and one can only hope that it is all positive. It would be a shame to ignore this and stay in a comfort zone. Our creative work needs the same approach as we get fresh ideas, new confidence in our own abilities, and the guts to give something new a go. It doesn't matter if it is not altogether successful, but it should spur us on to do our best. A success may not be entirely as we originally intended; the outcome may be even better, opening up new thoughts and opportunities. So, go for it everyone!

This is all very deep for a mild and overcast Saturday afternoon in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, but hey, why not.

Final Deliveries

Today I delivered the final pieces for my exhibition to the gallery. I suppose I should be feeling a sense of relief that I have got to this point, and probably I am. However, there is still more to come. By that I mean that I have yet to see my work hung in the gallery and we all know how this can make or break an exhibition. However, I have total faith in the curator. I have given her very few criteria as I would like her to interpret the presentation with her own artistic abilities. From what I have seen so far of previous exhibitions, she is very capable! It pays not to be too precious about these things. It is, of course, a joint venture between artist and gallery.

The major part of my exhibition! It doesn't look much but there are 14 wall pieces in the car ready for their journey to the gallery. They are rolled around cardboard yardage rolls covered in wadding, two or three on a roll, then wrapped in a covering cloth. The gallery already has other pieces pertaining to the exhibition.

Single figures now - nine days to go to the opening!

At last, my invite

Well, the invite to my exhibition has gone to the printers and I should have copies next week. I now know the title of my exhibition which has gone through several versions. None of my ideas have been used but hey, I like the title my exhibition has been given ie Fibre Reactive - New Work by Diana Parkes. It pays not to be too precious sometimes as often things turn out much better. I think the invite is very elegant.

The image is a detail from my piece called Nesting.

The other exhibition on at the same time is by the Upper Hutt Embroiderers' Guild Labours of Love. Nearly all the members of this guild attended my embroidery classes at some time during their 27 year duration. I think this makes for a lovely union of work.

Now only 12 days to the opening.....

Hanging Rods

I have just collected the last of the hanging rods for work in my upcoming exhibition. Over the years I have hung work using a variety of options which seemed appropriate for each piece. For my WholeCloth Banners I have chosen to hang them from clear flat perspex rods which I have cut to the exact size for each new piece. I always wait until I have a few to order and often get a few extra for future pieces.

The rods are made from 4.5mm (1/8") thick clear perspex. This is cut into strips 30mm (1¼") wide. The length is determined by the exact width measurement of the piece plus an additional 20mm (3/4") at each end. Small holes are drilled in the ends sufficient for nails to secure the rod to the wall, or hanging it out in space. The piece itself has a top hem wide enough to take the rod eg 40mm (1½").

Close-up of one end, pinned to my soft display board. Not a very good photo but it has started to rain, yet again, and the light has gone with it!

The lower edge is also hemmed and includes a strip of lead curtain weights inside the hem at the back. This helps to stabilize this edge.

Only another 14 days to go now ie 2 weeks!!