HOMEFREE: LOOK show 2010 Victoria BC

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The annual LOOK Arts Exhibition and Sale is on now at The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria.

It is in the salon tradition where all entries are displayed which makes it very diverse.

I have two fibre pieces in it this year.

Playing with Fibre

Artist’s statement

As a fibre archeologist discovering artifacts at church sale, thrift store, flea market etc. digs, I used this exquisite handwoven piece (with its provenance label) as both the loom on which to weave (the loom persists in the completed object) and as lengths steeked (cut) for the warp and the weft.

It was then folded (orikeito) and, with two simple cuts for armholes, two shoulder seams, became a vest/tabard.

This garment expresses clothing as architecture housing the body, making use of our natural heating and cooling systems.

Orikeito was continued in extra folding at neck and waist for increased visual texture and flow.

The hidden fringe was cut away and revealed in a freely sculpted expansive shape of compressed energy.

Edges were casually corralled with stitches but no attempt was made to finish them.

Playing. With fibre.

Cheerfully

Karen Skowron

The Dogs Walkerer

Artist’s statement

Along Caledonia street I often see four to eight dogs being walked by a single person.

They always catch my interest, delight and – curiosity: they look so harmonious and content.

Wanting to express this led to this piece.

The silhouettes and slightly-felted raw fleece backing felt right; the stiff denim supported characters in negative space.

It was intended to be worn – a scarf – and then, more a stole but now … hmmmm … ?

The leashes were raw fleece, vibrantly spun, meant to convey the rapport I felt between those dogs and human. Which led, I suppose, partway through the process, to the title The Dogs Walkerer suddenly drifting to mind.

I do note, however, that while the dogs are calmly strolling, the human is in rather a trot. Make of that as you will. I am having to!

Cheerfully

Karen Skowron