2017

We move forward from two successful exhibitions in 2016 in Prague and in the USA to the challenge of an exhibition in the Netherlands in the Autumn. We continue to work on A2 sized pieces in portrait format and will be producing four pieces over the year with the theme of 'Freedom'. An essential part of our art is working in series to a common format which does give us all a framework for our creative endeavours.

Friday, 11 April 2014

Barkcloth

 At last here is my first piece.  Within the theme of Earth I've chosen to create pieces reflecting the cloth that 'comes from the Earth' in Africa.  This piece is Barkcloth.  I have made a representation of a Mbuti barkcloth created by the Mbuti 'pygmies' of the Ituri forest. A place and people that I have lucky enough to see and meet.  The barkcloth is made by hammering and stretching the inner bark of a tree, it can be a from a number of different tree types, and then it is painted with a wonderful variety of symbols - all, of course, with meaning and significance.  These kind of cloths were often worn as ceremonial loincloths.  The barkcloth I used was sourced in Uganda.  I layered it onto a background quilt and stitched the designs by hand and machine.






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1 comment:

  1. ElaineRM16 April 2014 at 13:01

    This is really intriguing,Magie; I would love to know what all those signs and symbols mean. Where is the Ituri forest? Is the barkcloth easy to stitch through? It will make a very original series. Elaine.

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