Florence Sargent

 

Tactile, textile, sensory, play objects  by Florence Sargent made from recycled board,  felt, calico, waste upholstery foam and pigment ink. The outer layer uses the play materials felt coloured with an acrylic paint based mix, developed to be suitable for submerging and dyeing.

Florence uses colour to lead design which often results in a kaleidoscope of geometry with seamless line fluidity and a curiosity towards optical play. Her journey through the RCA has been anchored by the desire to encourage a playful engagement with surfaces through use of colour theory and soft materials.

Xiaoyu Zhu

 

I can feel the vibration of nature in heaven and earth.

I yearn for the state in Chinese Taoist thoughts,

feeling nature within and self without, to a subtle bliss.

Can humans resonate with the nature and universe?

I want to create such a breath.

Let my textiles be birds, waves, forests,

Chirruping, flying, floating, drifting,

As you breathe. Xiaoyu Zhu

Xiaoyu Zhu graduated this year from the RCA in textiles. 

Lin Fanglu

 

From the wrapping, knotting and tying of tie dye Chinese artist Lin Fanglu uniquely shapes and moulds textile forms.

Lori Seidemann

 

The slow weaving of Lori Seidemann who uses natural dyes to weave her stunning designs. 

Karolina Skórka

 

The wonderful fashion observations and sketches of Karolina Skórka.

Mary Stanley

 

Mary Stanley's 100 days of stitch, stitch book, a great project to try something new, explore, techniques and themes.

Harriet Powers

Harriet Powers 1837-1910 , was an en-slaved African American farm woman of Clarke County, Georgi, a  woman who made amazing quilts She exhibited 'The Bible Quilt ' (above) at the Athens Cotton Fair of 1886 where it captured the imagination of Jennie Smith, a young internationally-trained local artist. Of her discovery, Jennie later wrote: 

"I have spent my whole life in the South, and am perfectly familiar with thirty patterns of quilts, but I had never seen an original design, and never a living creature portrayed in patchwork, until the year 1886, when there was held in Athens, Georgia, a 'Cotton-Fair,' which was on a much larger scale than an ordinary county fair, as there was a 'Wild West' show, and Cotton Weddings; and a circus, all at the same time. There was a large accumulation farm products--the largest potatoes, tallest cotton stalk, biggest water-melon! Best display of pickles and preserves made by exhibitor! Best display of seeds &c and all the attractions usual to such occasions, and in one corner there hung a quilt-which 'captured my eye' and after much difficulty I found the owner, a negro woman, who lives in the country on a little farm whereon she and husband make a respectable living.... The scenes on the quilt were biblical and I was fascinated. I offered to buy it, but it was not for sale at any price."

Jennie Smith

Karen Tiede

The inspiring colourful ammonite rag rugs of Karen Tiede.  

Séverine Gallardo III

Séverine Gallardo has been creating crowns of felt and embroidery, headdresses to arrest the eyes and inspire the heart, modelled by Halbo Kool.