Gallery
Rosemary Boyd, of PLUmFISh Creations, posted March, 2010.
Ruth Marshall, Textile Artist, Posted February, 2010.
Rosemary Boyd, of PLUmFISh Creations. Rosemary Boyd is an Australian artist who creates one-of-a-kind wraps, stoles and scarves from a variety of yarns, her favorites being recycled sari silk, banana silk, mohair, and wool.
To the left is her "earth and rainbows flamboyant fun recycled sari silk boa party scarf," which measures almost 9 feet in length. Each little piece of silk has been individually chosen, cut and tied to a crocheted central core of sari silk.
Here is Rosemary, in her own words:
I have always loved to create. I can't remember a time when I didn't knit or crochet or sew. My grandmother had the enthusiasm and patience to teach me when I was very young - but more importantly she shared her fascination with every stitch I created; showed her excitement and eager anticipation as each piece unfolded; and jubilantly celebrated every completed work.
I love vibrant colours, and rich textures... colours that ask to be noticed and textures that long to be touched. The accessories I make are sometimes said to be flamboyant and lively - an expression of a part of me, that is otherwise hidden beneath a conservative quiet exterior.
I have long had a dream to develop a career where I would have the opportunity to showcase and sell my own
designs, but have previously lacked the confidence to take the first step. In recent years this desire has grown stronger, and the passion for creating has become almost overwhelming.
I have been encouraged by many to pursue my dream, and inspired by my beautiful artist daughter, to freely explore and express every spirit filled emotion and idea - whether fleeting or enduring.
I often feel that my art takes on a life of its own, and somehow creates itself...
plumfish??? the name my husband has always called me... no one knows why... or where... or how it originated..
So that's a little about me... busy wife, mum, nana and nurse!
To the right is Rosemary's "shades of autumn beige and brown silk rose flower choker statement necklace," hand crocheted using recycled vintage sari fabric.
This last photo is Rosemary's "rich earthy shades of burgundy red rainbow recycled sari silk and mixed yarn hand crocheted scarf."
Visit Rosemary's Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/plumfish?ga_search_query=plumfish&ga_search_type=seller_usernames
Ruth Marshall, Textile Artist.
Ruth Marshall uses knitting to explore human relationships with the natural world, especially animals. Her work was recently part of “Knitted, Knotted, Netted," a fiber show at the Hunterdon Art Museum in New Jersey. The show featured her large-scale knitted animal pelts.
The knitting of animal pelts boldly confronts the practice of taking skins from animals. It is a constructive answer to a destructive act. As any fiber worker knows, knitting a finished piece requires attention, commitment, and love, much like raising a child or growing a relationship. The viewer of these knitted pelts cannot help contrasting this careful activity with the harvesting of skins, which usually follows a violent assault. Thus the creative act makes a strong statement, quietly, about human violence against the natural world.
The image at right is Clouded Leopard #1, 2009, 69" x 41," yarn, string, sticks. See detail below.
In her own words:
My art is related to and bound by a fascination with animals. In essence the work is a synthesis of concepts relating to wildlife conservation and visually interpreting natural animal forms.
Exploring the precarious balance of our relationship to nature reacquaints us with an exotic world that we are in danger of losing with all the inherent drama of that loss fueling a search for survival.
I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. Studying the piano for several years as a teenager introduced me to the discipline and power of the arts. In my twenties I traveled overseas for two years, living in Amsterdam, Holland, visiting Thailand, Myanmar, most of Europe and fulfilled a lifelong desire to see the ancient art of Egypt. I returned home to Australia and studied for my BA in sculpture and printmaking at Phillip Institute of Technology, where diversity and independence of study was encouraged.
In 1993 I was awarded the Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship, a generous sponsor in promoting overseas education of Australian visual art students. I began my Masters degree in sculpture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Upon graduation I obtained employment at the Wildlife Conservation Society, more commonly known as the Bronx Zoo. I was employed at the Bronx Zoo as an exhibit sculptor and fabricator for fourteen years, where my primary goal was to replicate artificial natural environments, offering enriched and educational arenas for animals and humans alike. Presently I teach drawing at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
As an exhibiting and working artist my work has been displayed across the United States and gained international exposure.
Find out more about Ruth Marshall at http://www.ruthmarshall.com/index.html.
Above, Gold Jaguar, 2007, 81" x 51," knitted yarn, bamboo, string.