WHEN you hear the word “quilt” you often think of a blanket, but Rocky River artist Jan Clark’s pieces are not for cuddling up with.
The textile artist’s work was selected to tour with the Australian Quilt Convention’s display, and will be on show at the Craft and Quilt Fair in Sydney from today until Sunday.
“They always have a challenge, and this year it was Tradition with a Twist, which could be interpreted in any way you wanted as a textile piece,” Clark said.
“I’m particularly interested in medieval manuscripts; they have very ornamental boards on them of spirals and gold.
“So my piece is a giant image of those gold spirals, a golden forest, with insects in it.
“The technique is fabric collage.
“It’s not pieced like patched work, it’s assembled like a collage with paper but I used textiles instead.”
Clark has a particular love of creepy crawlies, particularly those she finds in her lush bush backyard.
“Textiles are my passion, but I also do meticulous insect illustrations,” she said.
“I’ve done a degree for Natural History Illustration at Newcastle University, so I’m trained in doing scientific illustration.
“I didn’t have to do formal art; I could interpret it in textiles.”
Clark shares her creativity with the region, having recently displayed her insect works at The New England Regional Art Museum, and tutoring at Go Create New England. She and two other artists run creative textile and art workshop retreats from Terrible Vale.
Clark’s works are set to be on the road for a while, touring until December.
But when they return, they won’t be going on any beds.
“A quilt suggests
something utility, as in keeping you warm or bedding or something,” Clark said.
“But these are wall pieces, they’re not meant to be practical, they’re not meant to be washed. It’s a fringe medium.
“It’s not something that is worn and used, it’s a picture.” The Craft and Quilt Fair will be held Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Island.
