Silk Shibori Stoles

My latest shibori silk stoles have been selected to be exhibited in the Creative Alchemy exhibition at the Belconnen Arts Centre. The show promises to be quite a visual feast with over 60 works by 40 artists, all responding to the theme 'Creative Alchemy'.

The word 'alchemy' conjures up ideas of mystery and intregue: genies in bottles, magic carpets, the Middle East, the exotic and transformations of the sate of being. My works are created by manipulating silk and transforming it into a permanent three dimensional object using shibori techniques. The silk is then dyed using exotic ingredients which originated in the Middle East: saffron and pomegranate - alluding to the magic of food that transforms our bodies and souls.

This is my first experience of dying with natural colours, and Ive really enjoyed the process. I quite like that it is non toxic, and can be done in my kitchen at home. I have a feeling this may be the beginning of an adventure as I explore dying with other natural colours.

In conjunction with the Creative Alchemy exhibition, artist of international acclaim Julie Ryder will exhibit her work in Creative Alchemy II. Julie's fascinating work explores the marks made by the chemical reaction of bacteria and moulds which occur between vegetable matter and natural fibres.

(detail of Julie Ryder's work)

The exhibition opens at 6pm on Friday 23 September 2011 at the Belconnen Arts Centre.