What’s on at Fabric of Life?

Each year Fabric Of Life holds a number of specialist textile exhibitions reflecting recent acquisitions and special projects. We also have new stock arriving constantly from our artisans around the world. Mary has just arrived back from Turkey and Thailand an new stock will be arriving every week until Christmas.

• Blossom: Textiles inspired by the natural world

  1 to 17 march 2012
  
  ‘Blossom” will present textiles that explore inspiration from the natural word from diverse cultures the world over. Nature provides design inspiration, plants from which textiles are made, and plants and minerals that are used to create colour.
  
  Textiles will include Australian Indigenous hand printed textiles from Babbarra Arts in Maningrida in Arnhem Land representing the artist relationship with their country and the inspiration of natural materials. It will also feature Indigo dyed wall art by Adelaide Nigerian artist Oluwole Oginni and embroidered clothing by Adelaide Afghani embroiderer Fatima Ataei. Other cloths will include Indian and Central Asian embroidery depicting the symbolic flowers of celebration and ceremony.
  
  Babbarra Designs create fine indigenous textile art and are based at Maningrida in central Arnham Land operating out of the Babbarra Women’s Centre. At Babbarra Designs the artists have negotiated traditional practices with introduced materials and techniques to develop new and original textiles. Influenced by the brightly coloured fashions favoured by the women of Maningrida and traditional subject matter their textiles are vibrant, innovative pieces of art. The work of these artists depicts the landscape, dreaming stories, bush foods and bush crafts from their country in central Arnhem Land. The variation in subject matter reflects the cultural identity of women from the different language groups.
  
  Oluwole Oginni arrived in Australia as a refugee from Nigeria in 2009. Since arriving in Australia Oluwole has participated in the Craftsouth Traditional Craft Skills Project in Adelaide, delivering workshops in traditional indigo techniques. Oluwole works with natural indigo sources from the indigo plant and depicts traditional designs inspired by the landscape of Nigeria. Prior to leaving Nigeria he was Director and Coordinator of Creativity for Self-Reliance Studio and Gallery in Nigeria. He established this studio for his own art practise and he provided free training and support for many young people to develop livelihoods based on art making. The majority of young people trained used the skills developed to supplement or provide their income.
  
  Fatima Ataei lives in Adelaide, arriving 4 years ago as a refugee from Afghanistan. She is highly skilled in the traditional textile arts of Afghanistan. For ‘Blossom’ she has made clothing embellished with exquisite fine embroidery, learned as a young girl from her mother in law. Many of these designs are inspired by the flowers of the Afghan countryside. Fatima has also made a collection of superfine silk chiffon scarves with embroidered edging.
  
  Further Information

  Phone: 08 83617965 visit website

• “Yaz”: A Summer in Turkey

  From 10th November 2011
  
  The colours and designs of Turkey represent many cultures and many places. The bustling bazaars and souks, the coming together of diverse cultures, peoples, traditions, crafts…
  We are bringing you a taste of this to celebrate summer with the colours, styles and textures of Turkey. These textiles are made by artisans and master craftsmen following centuries-old traditions, and hand-picked by us during our travels. All items are inspired by the motifs, colours and symbols of the region. They have their own little story to tell and we wish to bring a little of this fascinating history into your lives and homes!
  We have some spectacular large textiles & also many smaller pieces ideal for Christmas gifts.
  
  
  • Magnificent rich Suzani embroideries from Central Asia including new contemporary designs on silk.
  • Oya jewelery, cotton scarves with Oya trim and beaded belts
  • Turkish silk scarves with traditional Ottoman designs from the ancient silk market in Bursa
  • Hand woven pure cotton hamam towels perfect for the beach, a picnic, the bathroom or the gym. Vibrant, light weight and quick drying.
  • Colourful vintage ceramic bowls from Uzbekistan.
  
  Further Information

  Phone: 08 83617965

• Threads:Contemporary Textiles & the Social Fabr

  1 October 2011 – 5 February 2012
  
  Threads: Contemporary Textiles & the Social Fabric
  Textiles Seminar
  Saturday 1 October | 1.00pm | Cinema B, Queensland Art Gallery: Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
  
  A seminar exploring Contemporary Asian textiles in the exhibition, with Mary Jose, Director, Fabric of Life; textile artist Liz Williamson; and Ruth McDougall, Associate Curator, Asian and Pacific Art. Presented in conjunction with The Asian Art Society of Australia.
  
  Threads Exhibition
  
  Threads transformed through knitting, weaving, looping and stitching are the most flexible of materials. Often carrying significant personal and cultural narratives, they move across temporal and spatial boundaries, connecting old and new ideas, just as they provide important links between people, places and ways of life. Threads also have the capacity to unravel, opening up possibilities for innovation, discord and creative change.
  
  Bringing together a diverse range of contemporary textiles from the Gallery’s Australian, Asian and Pacific Collections, ‘Threads: Contemporary Textiles and the Social Fabric’ celebrates the ways in which contemporary artists explore and extend the textile medium. Many works draw on traditional textile practices while also engaging new technologies, materials and imagery to reflect and transform existing social, political and cultural conditions. Through the visually striking designs, skilled techniques and richly textured surfaces of contemporary textiles, the exhibition investigates their function as a form of skin or interface with other cultures, the use of abstraction and rhythm to engage with local environments, the weaving of new histories and ideas of nation, and the continued vitality of garden imagery.
  
  
  Further Information

  visit website download PDF for more information

• Nina and Bess:Recycled Japanese Fabrics

  26 August to 10 September 2011
  
  Halyna Zalotockyj works under the ‘Nina & Bess Textiles’ label producing work from vintage Japanese fabrics recycled from kimonos and their accessories. Halyna’s work to date has included all kinds of bags, cushions, lavender-filled products, lamp-shades, table runners, waistcoats and hand-stitched silk necklaces.
  
  Her aim is to honour the spirit of the kimono, with its exquisite detailing, careful hand-sewn construction and traditional artisan weaving and dying techniques. After careful unpicking, laundering and pressing, textiles from damaged and no longer worn kimonos and obis are transformed into a range of unique hand-crafted objects which are detailed with vintage buttons, beads and findings.
  
  All the silks used are at least 20 years old, with most being from the 50s, 60s and 70s, though Halyna’s personal preference is for the rarer bold colours and patterns of the 20s and 30s.
  
  Though heavily influenced by the Japanese aesthetic, all her designs are original and no two pieces are exactly alike, no matter how small. She particularly enjoys combining fabrics from different periods in a fresh way.
  
  Halyna will be speaking about her work at the exhibition opening at 6pm on 25th August 2011
  
  
  Further Information

• 'Paisley': Empires by Design

  18th February to 12 March 2011
  
  The unique 'paisley' motif has been recreated in different forms for centuries. This exhibition for the Adelaide Fringe 2011 showcases a stunning collection of historic and new paisley textiles from across India and Central Asia, as well as modern interpretations of the design in every form from scarves to hand carved picture frames and printing blocks. All works will be for sale.
  
  Persia is credited with having created the boteh design that has since become known as the paisley motif, during the Safavid Dynasty from 1501-1736. Boteh is an anglicised version of the Hindi word, buta, which means “flower.” In India the design is depicted in weaving, embroidery and woodblock printing in a range of styles. Iranian weavers began using the design extensively in rug weaving during the Qajar Dynasty (1795-1925) and continue to use it today. Paisley in Scotland produced machine made shawls for the longest period, thus the name ‘Paisley” became the popular western name for this design.
  
  
  Further Information

• Donation of Alison Carroll Raiki Wara successfully auctioned to raise funds for Kiva

  October 2010
  
  Fabric of Life is a proud supporter of KIVA. I hope that you will join us in supporting those less lucky than us. You can join through the KIVA website or phone Fabric Of Life and we can help you to join our team.
  
  Donation of Hand Drawn Batik Raiki Wara By Ernabella Artist Alison Carroll
  
  Thanks to the wonderful generosity of one of our customers, Fabric of Life has auctioned a hand drawn silk batik Raiki Wara by Alison Carroll of Ernabella to raise funds for Kiva. The batik is hand drawn on Jap silk and is approximately 300 x 110 cm. Some of you would have met Alison when she and her family have travelled down from Ernabella for exhibitions at Fabric of Life. We have been proudly associated with Ernabella Arts for a number of years and have a collection of Raiki Wara and scarves for sale from a range of Ernabella Artists.
  
  Alison Carroll was born at Ernabella in 1958 and still lives and works at Ernabella. She was Anangu Mayatja (Manager) at Ernabella Arts 2004 – 2007 and is now Director of Ananguku Arts and Culture Aboriginal Corporation (Ku Arts) and Chair of Ernabella Arts. She has exhibited extensively since 1990 and her work is held in all major Australian public collections and also the British Museum and National Galleries of Scotland. Her walka (design) reflects her identity as a contemporary and senior Pitjantjatara woman.
  
  
  Further Information

• Embellished, Recycled, Recreated: Contemporary Indian Textiles

  27 May to 30 June 2010
  
  A collection of Indian textiles showcasing a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional techniques, designs and fabrics. Designers in India are creating inovative a vibrant designs drawn from their rich textile heritage.
  
  Textiles include:
  •Bright hand printed silk quilts, cushions and other home wares.
  •A collection of very finely hand woven pure pashmina shawls in a range of colours and styles from the finest patterned weaving and embroidery available, to simple plain colours for winter.
  •A new range of kantha embroidered bedcovers throws and shawls; some using recycled fabrics and some on new silk.
  •Beautiful pieced block printed cotton quilts coured with natural dyes.
  . Hand block printed table cloths and napkins in a range of colours and sizes
  •A range of textured and embroidered woolly scarves for winter warming.
  •Tree of Life appliqué hangings and bed covers
  
  Further Information

• Strands of Country: Contemporary Aboriginal Textiles

  March 2010
  
  From the southern ocean to the northern seas and across the desert, contemporary textile art is practiced by Aboriginal artists. This exhibition showcases the work of three centres of contemporary textile practice.
  
  Babbarra Designs is based at Maningrida in central Arnhem Land. The artists depict the landscape, dreaming stories, spirit beings, bush foods and bush crafts from their country. The Maningrida region of central Arnhem Land is one of immense cultural and linguistic diversity. The variation in subject matter reflects the cultural identity of women from the different language groups.
  
  The women produce lino-tile designs and print these on fabric with up to three layers of colour. Each piece of lino fabric is unique with varying tile and colour combinations. The textile artists also hand paint their lino-tiled fabric, further enhancing the creativity of individual pieces. The artists work on both silk and cotton fabrics. The silk fabrics are suitable for use as wall hanging lengths, stretching like paintings or to make clothing and cushions. The cotton fabrics come in an upholstery grade for furniture and in softer grade cotton for use as wall hangings, table cloths, cushions and clothing.
  
  Ernabella Arts Inc, from the Central Desert of Australia, is the oldest Indigenous art centre in Australia. Batik has been synonymous with Ernabella since the mid 1970’s and the resultant silks feature in many national and international public and private collections. Ernabella is located on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the north west of South Australia and has a community of about 400 Pitjantjatjara people. Of the contemporary art forms of Central Australia, the fabric traditions of Ernabella have gained a unique reputation in Australia and overseas. The artists continue to innovate, drawing on their land as inspiration for their rich and glowing cloths. The focus this year is on smaller scale silk cloths with finely detailed batik designs. Fabric of Life has been working closely with Ernabella Arts Inc since 2004.
  
  Kuju Arts is based in Port Lincoln on the West Coast of South Australia. The art from the region expresses culture, stories, lifestyle & family and reflects the colors of land & sea. The Sea baskets are made from local grasses/reeds and seaweed with shells and other objects found from the shores around the West Coast. The sea baskets and matt hangings are only a new craft to Kuju with the first showing of the new style baskets and hangings in April 2009. These baskets are unique to Port Lincoln and Kuju and represent the environment and the strong cultural links to the sea for the people on the West Coast.
  
  Silk bags, hand painted by local Port Lincoln artist Elizabeth Miller will also be included. Each bag is unique with her two main designs being used– Honey ant Hunt and Footprints. Various colours are used to create unique and individual pieces of art and some of her silk paintings are also suitable for framing.
  
  Further Information

  Phone: +61 8 83617965

• Natural Connections: Paintings by Eliza Piro together with traditional Indian textiles

  9 to 22 August 2009
  
  Eliza Piro was born in Adelaide and spent her younger years growing up in Clare in the mid North of South Australia. She studied art at Pembroke College where her love and passion for the subject evolved. Further study at Melbourne School of Photography gave her a greater understanding of colour, texture and form and led into experimenting with different mediums.
  
  Eliza is inspired by nature which she finds truely uplifting and exhilerating, She finds being at one with nature exttremely liberating. Her current and much of her future work will depict flora and fauna as she wishes to present art that will express the beauty of our surroundings and alert the viewer to our fragile environment.
  
  Travels to India where she fell in love with beautiful textiels and embroideries have also been a huge inspiration, her art often depicts indian motifs such as birds and elephants which also expresses her love for nature.
  
  Her paintings convey a sense of her journeys and will remind the viewer of rich and elegant fabrics.
  
  Her interpretations are original, exotic and uplifting. Beautifully detailed painted trees and repeated patterns echo the spiritual mantra of the East meets West.
  
  All works in this exhibition will also be available for viewing and sale on line at the online shop section of the Fabric of Life website
  Further Information

  visit website

• Lustrous Lives: 20th Century Chinese Textiles

  March 2009
  
  A collection of Chinese silk textiles spanning a period from the late 19th Century to today. Collected over 20 years they include traditional Chinese costumes and textiles and a range of textiles from Chinese minority groups renowned for their fine embroidery. Works include framed embroideries, costume and associated textiles.
  The Chinese pioneered the use of silk and were fundamental in the development of the world silk industry. They refined the spinning, weaving and embroidery of silk to its highest level. The network of trade routes that connected China, India, and Europe, known as the Silk Road, was one of the world's main thoroughfares for goods and ideas traveling both east and west.
  Silk have been used in China for generations. At home, they were draped on chairs and around beds for warmth and comfort, placed on and around tables and hung on walls for decoration. They were used for book covers and for framing paintings. They were fashioned into purses and bags to hold small articles to be carried on the person. In temples and monasteries, they were used for banners, canopies and hangings for worship and commemoration. As garments, the use of silk itself was an indication of status.
  The works in this exhibition represent a small sample of the diverse and enormous representation of Chinese culture through silk.
  
  Further Information

• A Turkish Bazaar in Adelaide

  September 2008
  
  Textiles have been traded throughout Asia and Europe for hundreds of years. The Silk Road with its caravanserai for traders and travelers passed through central Asia and Turkey on its way to Europe. Following these long traditions of textiles trade Fabric of Life presents a range of textiles and other handcrafted wares from the rich and exotic markets of Turkey. Objects old and new are on offer
  
  • Hand woven wool kilim cushions
  • Antique Ottoman embroideries
  • Hand embroidered suzani hangings & cushions in traditional and contemporary designs from Uzbekistan
  • Ottoman and Uzbek antique copperware bowls
  • Costume and embroidered bags from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
  • Hand painted ceramics
  • Fun felt toys, bags and jewellery for all ages
  • Ikat fabrics and wall hangings
  • Scarves in hand woven silk and hand block printed with crochet trim
  • Hand crocheted jewelry
  
  Further Information

• Earth Lines: Batik Art by Helena Geiger

  May 2008
  
  Helena Geiger, with her Aboriginal heritage stemming from the Gumbaynggir Tribal Language Group on the North Coast of NSW, and a combined passion for Indigenous Art and Fabric, expresses herself through the traditional and beautiful art of Batik. Her work reflects her emotional responses to the Earth in delicate detail.
  
  Helena Geiger’s work is inspired by nature. She sees the detail in everything around her; the bark on trees, the lines drawn in sandstone, reflections in a puddle, colours in the sky She collects from the natural world; rocks, bark, feathers, leaves, pebbles different coloured sand, leaves. She also photographs the world around her to capture images of landscape that inspire her work.
  
  Each of Geiger’s works expresses different aspects of the land. The first step is to decide how to interpret this image into batik, and to decide how to use the qualities of this medium to achieve a particular result. How many layers of wax , what degree of cracks are needed to create texture, what sequence of colours to use, what colour will be the first and last. After the first few colours and layers of wax are done the images starts to take shape and takes on its own journey.
  
  Geiger finds batik to be challenging as you can never tell exactly how a piece will look until all the wax is taken off after sometimes days and even month’s spent working on it. It is a journey that never ends, there is so much to learn and discover about this technique.
  
  Helena Geiger has been exhibition in Sydney since 1998. This is her first Adelaide exhibition
  
  Images and price details are shown in the Indigenous Australian section of this website
  
  
  Further Information

  visit website

• Kiti Art

  February 2008
  
  DOUBLE TRIUMPH FOR ERNABELLA ARTISTS
  
  Prized batik from Australia’s oldest Indigenous arts centre at Ernabella has been acquired by the National Museums Scotland – just days before our major exhibition of the work officially opened .
  
  The National Museums Scotland, which hosts five museum centres across Scotland, was seeking to develop its collection of contemporary Australian art prior to the opening of a new Australian Gallery at its Edinburgh site in 2012. It bought 16 separate works – including 11 batik wall hangings – created by the internationally renowned women artists of the influential and internationally renowned outback Ernabella Arts Centre.
  
  Earlier this month the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia also purchased a number of works produced by the women which were in a special exhibition, Kiti Art: New Batik from Ernabella Arts to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the arts centre.The sales represented a triumph for the artists and came at a time of renewed international interest in Aboriginal Australia, further fuelled this month by the Federal Government’s historic apology to the Stolen Generations.
  
  “Ernabella’s long and successful history is testament to the artists who have continued, through many years of social change, to create exciting art of international quality from their very remote community.The Adelaide exhibition focuses on Ernabella’s unique involvement in batik works, stemming from an unprecedented visit to Indonesia in the 1970s by Ernabella artists which brought together two very different cultures and is regarded as having shifted the course of Australian textile art.
  
  All of the artists represented in this showcase Adelaide exhibition – including Tjunkaya Tapaya, Imiyari (Yilpi) Adamson, Tjariya (Nungalka) Stanley, Amanyi (Dora) Haggie, Margaret Dagg – have becoming leading exponents of batik, and are represented in National and International Museum Collections and private collections worldwide.
  They have each returned to their roots in 2008, to mark the anniversary of Ernabella – one of Australia’s most important indigenous art centres.
  
  
  
  In 2008 The Arts Centre at Ernabella celebrates its 60th year and Kiti Art is an honouring of the past and recognition that even though art practices are changing the acclaimed batik work of the women of Ernabella is stonger than ever. Kiti Art includes work by several of the most senior and important women artists of Ernbella Arts who are returning to their roots and producing a range of batiks that reflect their love for the artform, their land and their origins as artists. Ernabella Arts is experiencing a time of change – new mediums, new styles, new artists – yet these contemporary, batik works show that the heart and soul of the artists remains the same.
  
  Ernabella artists have a traditon of batik practice which has developed and flourished for over 40 years. The batik in this exhibition represents the work of the most senior women artists working at Ernabella today. All of these artists are represented in National and International Mueum Collections and private collections worldwide. In 2008 these artists have retuned to their roots to produce new batik. The artists included are Tjunkaya Tapaya Imiyari (Yilpi) Adamson, Tjariaya (Nungalka) Stanley, Amanyi (Dora) Haggie, Alison Carroll, and Renita Stanley.
  
  Kiti is the adhesive gum made from the resin of spinifex or mulga. Used to plug holes or cracks in bowls etc, and in making weapons, such as spear-throwers and hunting spears. As the melted wax is applied to the fabric, the women are reminded of kiti and the traditional way for Anangu.
  
  
  Further Information

  Phone: 08 8361 7965 visit website

• Mukata: South Australian Living Artsits Week 2007

  August 2007
  
  SALA 2007 sees the return to Fabric of Life of the Ernabella Arts Inc beanies or mukata.
  
  Each year the artists from Ernabella participate in the Alice Springs Beanie Festival. Beanies are made from a variety of materials and using many different techniques. Each year a theme is chosen for the beanies. In 2007 mukata made by the women of Ernabella Arts Inc reflect journeys both physical and spiritual. These sculptural and highly decorative pieces give a new meaning to the word beanie.
  
  This year we will exhibit a small selection of ‘art piece” mukata showcasing the best of the 2007 production. We will also have a few everyday beanies for sale.
  
  The artists have worked with Siri Omberg to develop skills in felting and applied threads. As their skills developed they began felting entire stories and traditional symbolism on their mukata that has prviously only been seen in paintings.
  
  
  Further Information

  Phone: +61 8 83617965 visit website download PDF for more information

• Stitched Together

  May 25th to June 16th 2007
  
  Mary spent the month of April in India collecting a new range of handcrafted textiles for Fabric Of Life. It is always wonderful to visit artisans and organisations who have become friends and see the new work they are producing. The richness and variety of their work is always inspiring.
  
  The focus of this trip was on embroidery. Mary visited a number of NGO’s and embroidery co-operatives in West Bengal to view different applications of the traditional Kantha embroidery. We then traveled to Rajasthan and then to Gujarat to visit the artisans that have become familiar to clients of the Fabric of Life such as, The Indian NGO, Shrujan; KMVS a project supporting the empowerment of women in tribal villages of Gujarat , the tie dyer Alimohamed Isha and the Ari Embroiderer Adam Sangar.
  Further Information

• Tjanpi Workshop

  March 2007
  
  On Saturday 10th March a Tjanpi workshop was held in the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden, Adelaide. Ernabella artists Tjunkaya Tapaya, Ungakini Tjangala, Ninguta Edwards and Yurpiya Lionel, and the Manager of Ernabella Arts, Debra Myers were present. The artists demonstrated the art of ‘Tjanpi‘ showing both how the twine baskets and how to make sculpture using natural grasses, raffia, wool and chicken wire. This gave the public a chance to interact with the artists in a practical hands on event. ‘Tjanpi Tjuta’ has promoted a greater understanding and community involvement with the Indigenous artists of Ernabella Arts Inc and their work. Work from other Ernabella artists will also be exhibited at Fabric of Life during the Fringe.
  
  We were very pleased to welcome representatives of the Kuarna community at this workshop.
  Further Information

  Phone: +61 8 83617965

• Tjanpi Tjuta - Lots of grass

  March 2007
  
  Adelaide Fringe 2007 saw Ernabella Arts Inc hold its first exclusively Tjanpi (fibre sculpture/basket) exhibition. The exhibition showcased work of various styles and scale showing the imaginative, unique, quirky and stylish aesthetic of the women of Ernabella. Their works included 2 and 3 dimensional fibre sculpture and sculptural and practical baskets, often decorated with wool, painted gumnuts and seeds.
  
  Making Tjanpi - anything made of grass - is a popular occupation in Indigenous communities in the Central Desert Region and its recognition as an art from is growing. In recent years the artists at Ernabella have started to use tjanpi to make baskets and various sculptural objects for sale. There is nothing in nature on the Lands that can provide the artists with a string or tie that is long enough to hold the tjanpi stems together (unlike their countrywomen in the Top End who use pandanus which provides a fibre string metres long) and so shop bought raffia or wool is used.
  
  The birds and animals have been made for fun. People love going out bush and collecting the grass and sitting down together to dream up a shape. Knees and other joints are a small engineering challenge, frequently met by the artist choosing to create a nesting bird. As well as tjanpi some larger heavier pieces are made using punti a cassia species that is common in the area.
  
  Most of the sculptures are bound together with varieties of wool including traditionally hand spun sheep’s wool using the Pitjantjatjara spindle to make the thread. Many of the currently practicing Ernabella artists began their careers as hand loom weavers producing fine woolen goods and the skills they learnt as weavers enable them to produce some of the most accomplished tjanpi work from the APY Lands.
  Further Information

  Phone: +61 8 83617965