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SHOW IS A COMPLETE STITCH-UP
A RETIRED teacher has joined forces with a group of her former pupils and colleagues to stage a special exhibition.
Cas Powles taught art design and textiles at the Isle of Man College for more than 20 years before retiring four years ago.
Practically All Stitched Up will be staged until February 26 at the Courtyard Gallery in Tynwald Mills, St John's.
It will include paintings, sculptures, textiles, jewellery and hats and bags by local artists Francis Boyde, Liz Cowin, Julie Fayle, Mary and Ruth Gulland and Vivien Woolf.
Cas, 54, from Ramsey, said: 'It's going to be a little bit different in the sense we have got people who are on top of their craft and artwork.
'The exhibition is special to me because a lot of these people I know well. I like their work and their personalities and to draw them together is quite good.'
Cas taught Liz, Ruth and Francis when they studied the art and design foundation course and worked with Vivien, who taught Mary and Julie, at the college.
She said: 'It just seemed a really good opportunity to get them together and see what they are doing now because they are all qualified and back in the Island working.
'All the artists have a passion for their individual disciplines and have been working hard to ensure that the exhibits are diverse and that the exciting examples of craftsmanship and style are not to be missed.'
Cas will display paintings and sculptures fusing bones and fabric plus a unique wedding dress, in conjunction with Kate Jerry from Bridal House in Ramsey.
She said: 'My recent work has centred on a delicate, fragile arrangement of bones and fabric to conjure up exotic and fantasy costumes, which are suspended in glass boxes.
'These have now developed into more complex themes, placed in glass domes reminiscent of the Victorian cased tableau.'
Textile tutor Vivien Woolf incorporates technology and machine embroidery with patchwork and landscape interpretations.
She said: 'My textile pieces are mostly functional with an emphasis on surface decoration using individually dyed, painted and printed cloth with machine stitching and quilting.'
Francis Boyde, who now lives in the Island after working in England and selling work to prestigious designers such as Christian Lacroix, will be exhibiting hats and bags.
She said: 'My current collection is inspired by the 1920s and includes headwear and bags but with a modern twist.'
Julie Fayle is studying for a degree in textiles and this will be her first exhibition.
Mary Gulland, who has long been associated with silk painting, will be using vibrant colour and the transparency of the silk to resemble stained glass.
She said: 'I have always been fascinated by the properties of silk as it has a great deal of potential for the designer.
'Luminous colours, bold lines, quiet areas and organic shapes all demonstrate the versatility of the fabric, which can be displayed on a wall or near windows to give a stained-glass effect.'
A jewellery designer and silversmith, Ruth Gulland had produced unique items ranging from classical to contemporary.
She said: 'My jewellery has always been expressive with the intention of being works of art, whether decorating the body or beautiful things in their own right.'
Liz Cowin, a jewellery designer and silversmith who is teaching in the Island, is an individualist who uses malleable materials and silver to produce unique pieces.
She said: 'Inspiration can come from anywhere and anything. Curiosity combined with a love of found objects has led to the creation of some theatrical pieces.'
For more information contact the gallery on 801108.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South west
