Layered fabric with peacock feathers and fibres, jewellery inspired by nature, charcoal etchings, and quilted and embroidered waistcoats, were just some of the things that caught the eye at the Fibre Artists Cape Town (FACT) exhibition, at Nova Constantia over the past week.
Mary von Blommenstein, from the Irma Stern Museum, officially opened the exhibition on Friday September 14, and a steady flow of visitors followed in the days ahead.
The theme for this year was “Inter-Woven”. Painters, ceramicists, embroiderers, jewellers, basket-makers, weavers
and, for the first time, glass artists,
brought their own interpretations of the theme.
At their monthly meetings, Fact members crit each other’s work, plan pro-
jects and discuss art exhibitions. They mostly come from the southern suburbs but also include members from Stellenbosch, Somerset West and Pringle Bay.
Curator Sheila Walwyn said about 75 to 80 artists participated in this year’s exhibition.
The work is not the typical American quilt seen on beds: these are works of art, from classic to abstract, collage, stitched and layered, sometimes using peacock feathers, beads, glass.
Some of the artists’ work goes on tour overseas, some have won international awards while others have had work displayed in museums.
“This exhibition is not only about selling the work. Many of these artists work from home and have no outlet in which to show what they are doing. It’s so good for them to see their work hanging and in such a beautiful space,” said Ms Walwyn.
