momentum
CURATOR Valerie Kirk
momentum
.............the power to increase and become stronger, move forward at an ever-growing pace


Recently developed textile technologies have grabbed media attention with their novel new performance abilities and applications. Smart textiles can do everything from cleaning themselves and regulating body temperature to collecting and conveying information to doctors. The global textile industry is a giant, moving forward with ever-increasing power and capacity for rapid change in mass production. Just when it seemed that interest in the handmade was about to be wiped out by a new wave of flat screens, mobile phones and portable media players, there was a complete turnaround and a grass roots swell of involvement in craft. Making by hand in 2008 is a positive and personal choice, increasing in popularity and receptive to the development of experimental artistic forms.

Artists deal with contemporary ideas and issues reflecting back to the population and projecting forward, provoking critical thinking and debate. Environmental concerns, issues of migration, place and identity, our relationship to nature and the constructed world, politics and social change are investigated in contemporary textile practice. Broad and inter-disciplinary education allows practitioners to access ways of working relevant to the issues they are dealing with and to move freely between mediums and processes. There is an exciting flow of ideas, dialogue and skills resulting in shared visions and hybrid artworks.

History and tradition have not been negated. On the contrary, there is a re-awakened interest in preserving knowledge and expertise, respecting past traditions and making sure they continue into the future. There is a global attraction to Indigenous textiles and fibre works and much collaboration on development and commercial projects between cultures. New tools and technologies are available to textile artists: a palette of computerised jacquard weaving, digital printing and sophisticated dye and chemical technologies. Artists are in a position to choose if and how to access high-tech materials and processes to enhance their work, using them appropriately and where relevant in their work.

Textile artists work inventively because of the rapidly changing context of their world, pushing the boundaries and communicating through their original expressive forms. They challenge our preconceptions and move forward into unknown territories. The strength of this work comes from the artists’ ability to respect their tradition and history while engaging with the momentum of progress.


VALERIE KIRK
Curator

image below
Demelza Sherwood
Horse and zebra (detail)2008
cotton, polyester, silk threads and embriodery threads on linen
68 x 63.5 cm
image credit Andrew Barcham, screaming Pixel

momentum
Image Above
Fiona Gavino
Perspectives shelf 2008
pith cane
69 x 86 x 65 cm
image credit Tony Nathan

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Liz Jeneid
Tea Party (detail) 2008
tea bags papers, shellac, tea labels
95 x 122 x 20 cm

Image credit
licensed by VISCOPY Australia 2008

momentum 18th TFT Biennial
TOUR VENUES & Dates
LIST OF VENUES FOR TOUR

Tweed River Art Gallery
PO Box 816 Murwillumbah NSW 2484
2 Mistral Rd Murwillumbah
Contact Susi Muddiman – Director
02 66702790
26 March until 10 May 2009

Port Macquarie Regional Gallery
PO Box 84 Port Macquarie 2444 NSW
PeachTree Walk Arcade 80 Horton St Port Macquarie
Contact Sharni Lloyd - Director
02 6581 8568
21 May until 28 June 2009

Canberra School of Art Gallery – ANU
Bld 105 Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200
Contact James Holland – venue manager
02 61255841
8 July until 1 August 2009

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery
PO Box 20 Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Cnr Baylis & Morrow St Wagga Wagga
Contact Cath Bowdler – Director
02 6926 9661
7 August until 30 September 2009

Mornington Peninsular Regional Gallery
Civic Reserve, Dunns Rd, Mornington VIC 3931
Contact Rodney James - venue manager
03 5975 4395

21 October until 29 November 2009

Geraldton Regional Gallery
24 Chapman Rd, Geraldton WA
Contact Mark Lennard
08 9964 7170
11 December 2009 until 22 January 2010

Western Plains Cultural Centre – Dubbo Regional Gallery
PO Box 81 Dubbo 2830
76 Wingewarra St Dubbo
Contact Brigette Leece – venue manager
02 6801 4430
6 February until 14 March 2010

Hawkesbury Regional Gallery & Museum
PO Box 146 Windsor NSW 2756
300 George Street Windsor
Contact Kath Von Witt – Director
0403 564 125
26 March until 2 May 2010

Riddoch Art Gallery Inc
PO Box 980 Mount Gambier SA 5290
8-10 Commercial Street East Mount Gambier SA
Contact Lucia Pichler – Director
08 87239566
15 May until 4 July 2010

Image above
Melissa Hirsch
Bleached Sea Fan Coral, 2006
Fishing line
510mm x 320mm x 90mm
Image credit: Lou Farina
Image below
Jane Bowden
Woven ring, 2008
Sterling silver, 18ct white gold spiral
25mm x 46mm x 135mm
Image credits: Grant Hancock