rockpool candy

Catalyst draw in

What do you get if you lock a bunch of artists in a room with a pile of brown bags? No, it's not a joke, at least not a funny one. Catalyst had a draw in. Artists got together to make their marks on brown bags that would then be used by the shop, Copper Moon.

There was a real mix of stuff, from pink and groovy
to dark and brooding

I tucked myself in a corner and crocheted up a few strips of plastic and a length of pink angora yarn.

The resulting hyperbolic corals were tiny and I was nowhere as prolific as other attending....

But then, a coral reef takes a lifetime to grow.

Kaffee mit Frau Fibre

Who is Frau Fiber?
A talented textile manipulator whose work encourages you to re-address your opinions about the cheap imports available on our high streets; to re-think the value we place on these clothes in relation to the time and labour spent by others, in often un-bearable conditions, constructing them; and to take up our sewing, knitting and crochet needles and construct our own clothes.

So what does she do about it?
She takes action.
The 'Re-Dressing New Orleans Project' was Frau Fiber's way of both interacting with the community she loves so much in New Orleans and of taking direct action when they needed it most, post-Katrina.
Pedalling her Heath Robinson-esque bike-powered sewing machine through the Gentilly neighbourhood, she offered a free textile service to anyone who needed repairs or a sewing service. (Google and flickr are full of images of her working.)

She's also the force behind The Sewing Rebellion, at the Mess Hall in Chicago.

So why am I telling you all this?
Well, Frau Fiber was kind enough to fit me in on a flying visit to Belfast on Monday. I bought her a rough cup of coffee and a dodgy scone in the bus station and she gave me my own private lecture on what she's been up to. (One of us got a raw deal, and it wasn't me!)
She let me pick her brains about a project I have in mind, and chatted easily about everything and nothing. Her charm, grace and warmth are completely disarming. She has a sparkle about her that puts you at ease instantly and, she inspires you to have the courage of your convictions and actually DO SOMETHING.
Our meeting left me geared up and full of strength to go for it.

What did I learn?
That we can make a difference. It might only be a little difference, but to each and every person to whom we show generosity of time and share our skills and knowledge, life gets a bit better.

Good on you, Frau Fiber! Here's to next time (and I promise better coffee.)

Click here for Frau Fiber's website.

The wonderful work of Mai Takahashi

We had the amazing opportunity to take part in a workshop yesterday with visiting Japanese artist, Mai Takahashi, at the Catalyst Arts Gallery, where we are members. [www.catalystarts.org.uk/exhibitions/2007/takmai/takmai.html] Boy, were we not worthy!

Mai Takahashi is a textile artist specialising in Bingata, a traditional Japanese technique. After her degree completion in Japan, she relocated south, to Okinawa, to learn the technique in a local workshop.

And now we are lucky enough to have her exhibiting and demonstrating here in Belfast.

[pic: Mai Takahashi (on the left) at the workshop, with delicate cranes on the wall behind.]

If you want to see a true craftswoman at work, then you could do no better than to see Mai Takahashi using her rice glues and inks to create the most beautiful of textile pieces. They are sublimely intricate, wonderfully vibrant and marry a traditional technique beautifully with contemporary fabrics.

She took the time to let us all experiment with her painting and rubbing brushes, on previously-prepared textiles. When we first saw her work we were amazed by her skill; by the time we'd tried out the technique ourselves, we were in total awe.

She truly is making the world more beautiful piece by piece, including our house. We cannot wait to hang her beautiful fungi and will be painting a wall especially in readiness for its arrival.

Thank yous go to Tai Makahashi, her translator and to Catalyst Arts for featuring such a wonderful artist.

I will post pics of our own Bingata attempts from the workshop when we've fixed and washed them. Prepare to view something that looks like a primary schoool child has been let loose in an ink shop.