WORKSHOP 

Members of CRF and Canberra Spinners and Weavers are invited to a workshop with textile artist Maris Herr as a catalyst to creating collaborative textile works for our Transformations: Hanging By A Thread exhibition for Design Canberra in November.

The one question Maris is asked all the time is 'How do you come up with your ideas?' generally followed by a lament that 'I could never come up with that!' It would be great to be able to say that her designs spring into her head fully formed, she can only wish it were so. For the most part, they are evolutionary with one idea feeding another. For the rest, it is a combination of things, a phrase here or a colour combination there and she is off and running or she will get half way through a piece and another ten variations on the theme will emerge.

Over the course of the day Maris will be sharing some of the tips and tricks she has used over the years to get past the staring at the wall stage of planning work for an exhibition. Exploring what it is that motivates you, be it a situation, a colour, a mood, a feeling or media. All of these are valid reasons to create. You just need to decide where to start.

This workshop will guide you to develop your ideas, enabling you to start creating afterwards. Participants are also welcome to collaborate making work, starting from ideas developed. There will be other meet up sessions later where pairs and small groups can discuss their progress on specific works.

OUR TUTOR

Growing up in a fabric and fibre oriented household, there was never any doubt that Maris Herr would work in textiles. The only debate was what area of fibre fluff or thread would be settled on.

Returning Wagga in 1990, after a stint in the rag trade, Maris enrolled at Charles Sturt University, completing a BA in Visual Arts majoring in Textiles. After completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Education, she worked as a Textiles/Design and Technology teacher at a local high school until the end of 2019.

After so many years of teaching Maris did think that when she left school that she would have the luxury of studio time… She is now concentrating on the publishing side of Textiles Anyone, studio jewellery work and a new venture into laser cutting. So much for retirement.

It has now been five decades since Maris' introduction to the sewing machine and over that time her love of Textiles has changed but never dimmed. From dressmaking to felting, knitting to sprang (yes, it is a real thing) she has sampled many media and techniques. Today, her primary medium is silver and other metals, often incorporating fibre and stitch.

Other information

Workshop level: All levels, this workshop is about ideas

COVID plan: CRF has a COVID plan in place at the venue. If we are unable to run a face to face class due to sudden COVID lockdown, participants will be offered a refund.

Cancellations: see Workshop Terms and Conditions.