Three Sisters

Before I give you some insight in the workings of THREE SISTERS, I have now posted all the images from my exhibition FIBRE REACTIVE on to my website. Go to www.dianaparkes.co.nz and open up WholeCloth Banners. Each image may be clicked on to enlarge and they move through by simply clicking on the rolled-over NEXT in the top right area of each image.

THREE SISTERS came about because of the new size limits for the Surface Design Association Members' exhibition at their conference earlier this year. I am not a fan of working within squares so, after considerable contemplation I decided to work a triptych and then select one to send to the conference. I decided on three similar shapes which evolved as outcrops from either land or sea; these are often given familiar names by those living in the area.

© 2008 Diana Parkes, THREE SISTERS, dye and pigment on silk, size overall 46cm x 142cm / 18" x 56".

The first dye application being washed with the hose on my driveway. This method helps to prevent the dye back-staining on to the white fabric.

Several more applications: printing with unravelled cloth, and discharged grids (the conference was titled Off The Grid). Also some partial printed text based on 'woman and her wits' from a 100 year old book that I have in my bookshelf. The initial dyeing did back-stain on to the white background but in this case I felt this was beneficial.

Further dye colours introduced into the corners, and some more to finish off the piece (see completed image).


And here it is on the cover of the SDA newsletter, smack in the middle!

Workbooks

The other day I had a session with my current workbook. All those little bits of experiments or tests, and rejects accumulated while working, get pushed to one side until I find time to look at them again. This can be quite enlightening as, removed from the original intention, they appear quite different. I usually cut out the best pieces and paste them into a workbook. This makes for good record making, and occasional reviewing over time.

Here are three pages from my current workbook. This workbook has black pages which creates its own challenges especially when note making, but on the whole I think it works well.







On Sunday afternoon, a friend and I went on an architecture tour organised by our local gallery, TheNewDowse. We started at a local Buddhist community which was set in idyllic New Zealand bush. It was a most interesting visit and I snapped this image on the side of some steps. I find it very elegant and serene.

Figures In The Mist

Here is another piece from my exhibition.

©2008 Diana Parkes, FIGURES IN THE MIST, dye, discharge and pigment on silk, 85cm x 94cm; 34" x 37".

I had been looking through some of my images taken in Spain and selected one of a narrow window opening in an 8th century church. I liked the stone blocks which supported this window and, although still at a beginners level in photoshop, I did manage to remove the window and the rest of the stone work.


I transferred, free-hand, similar shapes to some silk

After adding some colour washes to the background, I then decided I didn't like these at all! This is not an unusual reaction (it happens often), but instead of discarding it....

....I put it through a discharge bath and felt much better about the resulting, more subtle colours. I also turned it into a horizontal position. I was then able to introduce further elements to the piece as in the final image above. I often make these radical shifts and am absolutely hopeless at working commissions - I could never stick with a pre-determined design!

Interesting to note that the top photo is a professional photo while those-in-progress are my humble, but faithful, digital camera. The top photo is truer to the real colours. This certainly supports the value of getting photos taken professionally!

Colour Connections Installation

Every gallery likes to educate, and as part of my Fibre Reaction exhibition at Expressions, Upper Hutt, there is now a display in the foyer doing just that. This wasn't able to be set up until a week after the opening but will be there for the remaining time of my exhibition. In it I have taken 99 pieces of white cloth, 50cm x 50cm (20" x 20") plus one commercially dyed black piece. With the white and black pieces at either end, the 98 pieces in between are based on the dye percentage principle and work through a complex range of colours. I am hoping people will take time to think how some colours are produced. There is also a cabinet with some of my 'tools of trade', along with a basket of dyed pieces to handle and some books to view. Hopefully these will further an understanding of dyeing.






And while on the subject of colour, below is the facade of the Wellington City Gallery, which currently houses an exhibition by Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, MIRRORED YEARS. This artist works with colour and dots. Her exhibition is wonderful, and her lifelong dedication to making art is inspiring. Well worth a visit (or two). www.citygallery.org.nz

Floor Talks

I have now delivered two floor talks about my exhibition with attendances for both being very good - 60+ for one and 26 for the other. I have always enjoyed artist floor talks and try to get to as many as possible. Having to give one yourself is another story. As artists we enjoy what we do and that is making art. Talking about ones work is equally as important and it takes some thinking as to what to say, how much to say (before people glaze over!) and how long to make the talk. It does pay to think about one's work constantly, and to practice a few stories.

One of the two most important things about my exhibition has been the opportunity to see all the pieces displayed together. When preparing for such an exhibition, new work gets stored away and forgotten while the next piece gets underway; and most of us don't have space in our homes to display all the work together anyway. Then there is the colours that I have used, these may be pretty obvious to others but more difficult for me to recognise... until they are all lined up together and then it is as simple as how I like my coffee.

The other important thing is how I have used images from my travels overseas where ideas and images are stored within the heightened senses that travel offers.

Thankfully both the audiences were receptive and I enjoyed the experience, despite being a tad anxious beforehand.

We need more chairs!!

Me in full 'flight'...

Bird Box

Here is another piece from my exhibition. This piece started as a doodle drawn while talking on the telephone (it always pays to have pen and paper handy!) It hung around for awhile then re-surfaced. I started to play with the idea; in particular I liked the shape with the attached wings - was it flying?

© 2008 Diana Parkes, BIRD BOX, dye and pigment, wax resist on silk, 86cm(34") x 103cm(40½")

It started with some resists lines to define the shapes, plus some wax top left. Areas were painted in solid colours as a start....

I wasn't too happy with how things looked so I added some more wax and, as oft I do, I overdyed the whole piece.

Then out came the discharge paste and I removed most of the burgundy. This may seem rather odd but the result was much more appealing.

Then it was a matter of building back up some of the areas with more dye and patterns. I introduced clouds and 'rain' in the background to transport the bird box out there in space. Its initial title was Flying High but as I wasn't sure whether the bird box would be obvious, I changed it to Bird Box. I am now wondering whether both names could be used Bird Box - Flying High, and it may get called that in the future.

As can be expected when describing the processes in any piece, I skip much of what has been done because (a) I have forgotten every detail and (b) some things just happen. I am sure you know what I mean.

Fissure

As promised, here is another piece from my exhibition which I will share. I have re-visited my exhibition several times now, and am walking away still feeling very satisfied. It is also nice thinking back on how some of the pieces were achieved.


©2008, Diana Parkes, FISSURE, dye on silk. Length 110cm/43½", top width 44cm/17½", lower width 58cm/23"

The fabric for this piece was first dyed a flat dusky pink, followed by the top squares and lower arch shape being discharged. This gave a structure to develop further. Colours were painted into the arch shape, but the top squares I left as they were as I liked the variations in the discharged colour.



The area above the arch had less discharge work leaving some organic patterns which I enhanced further to suggest the fissure theme.

Finally, in analysing the results thus far, I added a couple of green shapes in the top area. I often feel that the introduction of a highlight colour goes along way to add that spark. The piece stayed on my pin-up board for a few days until I began playing with the overall shape. I then tucked the top side areas in behind the piece, which allowed for a nice drape and the lower corners to peek out from behind.