‘You Can’t Make a Silk Purse from a Sow’s Ear.’ – 16th century proverb.
What started decades ago in Canada as a crayon drawing on the wall was the spark for a lifetime of creating.
At home and abroad, in studio, classroom, pilot house and garden, and on land and sea, her pen, brush and needle have never been still. Marie has studied painting, sculpture, printmaking, fibre arts, ceramics, fashion design and costuming.
This solo show celebrates “gleaning” – a way of life that embraces ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ – which has been an important part of Marie’s practice and a way of life for decades.
“In our family, ‘gleanings’ or ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ has been our practice, since before it was a saying. Using scraps of old lace, odd beads and bits from the button box to dress dolls, cat and my little sister, evolved into converting op-shop and attic finds into treasures of various kinds.”
In this exhibition the majority of the works are made from repurposed materials, as well as pen & inks and watercolours.
“Except for the pen & inks and watercolours, all the works in this exhibition are from repurposed materials; I collect expired fabric samples, fossick through op-shops and raid bits from my own stashes.
My images and other pieces are often inspired by the collection of textures and colours in front of me. I want to impart fun, joy and simple loveliness, with an occasional dash of awe and reverence.“
BIOGRAPHY
“Being a curious sort, I’ve explored and studied various disciplines, formally and otherwise: painting, sculpture, printmaking, fibre arts, ceramics, fashion design and costuming.
Then, to spread the joy of designing and making, I took it to the classroom. There have been many rich experiences, from kindergarten to post-secondary, in both familiar and challenging cultures.“
Now, more than 20 years in Whangarei, still living on the boat that carried her family across the Pacific, she feels blessed to be able to continue creating. As a teacher of Textiles, Art and Design at Pompallier College, she dressed “casts of thousands” in diverse and ambitious school productions [from Oz to Dickens’ London, Fairy Tale page to Disco stage. Marie robed budding thespians for roles as hero and villains, chorus and character]. Creating costumes for The Phantom of the Opera, Whangarei Theatre Company, being the biggest costume canvas of all.
And now she will fill the empty canvas of the Yvonne Rust Gallery with her “Gleanings”.
Opening Friday 22 March, 5pm.
Exhibition Duration: 22 March – 13 April
