‘when you start it’s fun, but it takes over’
ARTY fingers have been at work over the past year creating fabulous petals for a bouquet of fibre-sculpted flowers, at East Fremantle’s Freight Gallery.
The idea came during a workshop for textile sculptors run by renowned artist Nalda Searles.
When friend and fellow artist, White Gum Valley’s Judy Seward, turned out a stunning flower made from recycled material and dried grass, the pair decided to put the word out to garner a forest of flowers.
“I thought if we get 50 people it would be a goer—we had 150,” an elated Ms Searles told the Herald.
Entries came from groups as far-flung as Albany and Lake Grace, Broome and Kununnurra, Sydney and Melbourne.
There’s even some from blokes, four in total, including a well-known architect in Denmark in WA’s south-west.
“We really cast our net wide—but didn’t hook too many fellas,” Ms Searles sighs.
She’d worked with Aboriginal women in remote areas for years and it was her influence in 1995 that helped launch the Tjanpi Desert Weavers, a collection of central desert women.
The women were already creating indigenous art, but weaving from local grasses wasn’t a central desert tradition.
“Once they started doing grass sculpture they went made for it,” Ms Searles says.
The Tjanpi weavers went on to win national and international acclaim: A Toyota 4WD made from woven grass took out the $40,000 National Indigenous Art Award in 2005.
Some Tjanpi flowers are in the exhibition, and a grant has come through for some women to fly in for planned flower-making sessions during the exhibition.
“They will be at the Fremantle flower-making along with two women from the east Kimberley and 10 women from Narrogin,” Ms Seward said.
“So that will be more than 24 artists making flowers and encouraging the public to have a go. We’ll all be on the grass, outside the exhibition space.”
Fremantle local Sarah Wilkinson is one of a number of Freo artists with work in the exhibition. A fairly recent convert to the craft, she says she’s hooked.
“I think when you start it’s fun, but it takes over!” she laughs. “Your priorities change.”
Not all the flowers are fibre but all are made from recycled material, including glass washed up on the beach, and pieces of old china. There’s even one with real chillies.
Fingers and Petals is on at Freight Gallery (DADAA) Beach Street, East Fremantle May 4–19 (next to the cafe, opposite the jetty).
All are welcome at the free flower-making session, Saturday May 18, 12.30–4.30pm.
Or if you happen to be in the Swan Valley there’s more than a bunch of flowers on display at Ellenbrook Arts, Main St Ellenbrook May 6–19, with flower-making Sunday May 19, 12.30–4.30pm.
Rock up, or book by emailing fingesandpetals@gmail.com or call Judy Seward on 0423 764 424.
BY JENNY D’ANGER