Through time the practice of making textiles by hand has become rare and many techniques are threatened or lost. These pencil line rubbings are explorations of the fragmentation that occurs to the textile tool that is beneath the paper; and intern explores the fragmentation that has occurred to the object throughout history.  The objects participation in the re-invention of itself is representative of the change in perception that may occur within the viewer as they, in discovering what the drawing is, have a deeper and more critical experience when thinking about the object and its history.

Block printing is an ancient printing practice where wooden blocks, which are meticulously hand-carved, are used like stamps to print fabric (usually cotton) with pigments.  Very skilled people in India print cloth using this method and achieve seamless repeat networks by hand; a skill that is passed on through generations and requires an immense amount of experience to master.

The first photo below is taken from the Maiwa website.  It is of an indian-made cloth called an Ajrakh.  Maiwa says, "Producing an ajrakh involves entire communities: block cutters, dye farmers (for the many natural dyeplants), cloth merchants, and of course, the ajrakh craftspeople themselves (those who mordant, print, dye and design the cloth)."  -source

I've just added this picture as my desktop background in hopes that it will help me to get around to actually making a fabric garland like this soon.  I think it will be the perfect item for our Montreal apartment this Christmas.  Plus it reminds me of my aunt Franca who is a great inspiration to me.  Like me, she is a textile artist and has made a beautiful series of mini dolls like the one in the picture, but much more elaborate.

picture via Poppytalk

I did some line rubbings of my wedding dress which was once my grandma Clara's.  Above are the lines in print form; yet another exploration into my line rubbing series. This yardage will be a the background for a projected video; a story about Clara and I in abstract form.  I had some friends participate in the video as well to represent my community in this time of grieving.

I haven't had time to take pictures of the show yet, but here's some pics that some friends took at the opening.  I also have a process video still to come.