Unique fibre exhibit

By Sarah Sobanski

The Art Gallery of Bancroft (AGB) is rediscovering the use of fibre.

New AGB exhibit Expressions in Fibre brings together local artists Dianne Eastman, Miriam Hookings, Pat Reynolds, Jane Selbie, Wendy Snefjella and artists from the Hillcrest Village Fibreworks who design art from fibre or fabrics.

“It's any way of using fibre in your work. Some of the pieces are fabric collages. There's a woman who used plastic screening. There's people with just fabrics; paintings out of fabric. They're landscapes with little tiny bits of fabric,” explained curator Nancy Leilah Ward. “[One artist made a] portrait of her husband out of cheese cloth. It looks exactly like him. It's really amazing. I had no idea how diverse working with fabric could be.”

There are 14 artists in total in the show. Ward was inspired to curate the event as a member of the AGB curatorial committee after a sewing weekend where she met some of the artists. She said she wasn't into sewing but attended the weekend event even so. She said the work she saw when she attended inspired her.

“With fibre a lot of it comes from plants like flax, so calling it fibre and not textile art really broadens the spectrum. I was thinking it would be mostly quilting but it's [turned out to be] an explosion [of variety],” said Ward.

The exhibit runs until Oct. 29. Three works sold on the opening night of the show Oct. 7.

“Come to the show to be inspired and if [you] are curious about what fibre art might actually mean. I found it very inspiring. It's fun and inspiring just to see the range of creativity that there is.”

Ward thanked the gallery's sponsors for helping bring the event together. She also thanked Stephanie Henderson who sponsored the event in memory of her late husband Robert Henderson.