KLIB Convention 2009 Speakers

Palimpsests: Textiles in Nature

by Susan Fell Mclean
Textile artist, researcher and educator
Australia

A short film  ‘Palimpsests: Textiles in Nature’, presenting contemporary textiles as land art will be projected. The film creates layers within the Australian environment, as it conveys the artist’s sculptural and installation works in which she uses batik, rozome, shibori, felt and stitch. Emphasis is given to the artist’s interpretation of landscape using the subtle colours of dyes sustainably extracted from indigenous  Australian Eucalyptus leaves.  “…organic and muted hues from—E Melliodora (Yellow Box), allow me to evoke a textural layered landscape of eroded rock surfaces, worn through time. I find a use for something discarded, iron scrim, which creates patterns of both continuity and individuality. Layers of colour and texture, details and shapes become palimpsests within the work”.

The second part of this multi media presentation is entitled ‘Australia Naturally’ referencing one of the many exhibitions at the 2008 International Shibori Symposium in France. With a theme of ‘Textiles in Nature’  this 15 day conference provided opportunity for numerous workshops relating to dyeing using natural products, lectures and stunning industry visits as well as traditional and contemporary exhibitions.

The resurgence of natural dyes as contemporary alternatives for colouring cloth is an exciting field that allows us to ‘walk lightly on the earth’.