A loosely affiliated group of fibre artists on Gabriola Island turned to nature to inspire their latest exhibition.
Last week Forest Edge opened at Gabriola’s Centre Gallery. The show features a variety of work by more than a dozen artists, including quilted wall hangings, stitchings, weavings, tapestries and garments. The pieces all reflect the exhibition’s title.
“We picked a theme – ‘forest edge’ – and how we chose to interpret it was completely up to us,” said Leni Balaban, who has been showing her work with the group for the last 15 years. “So some of it is abstract, some of it is extremely realistic, some of it is whatever ‘forest edge’ suggests. It’s a pretty open topic.”
Balaban’s contributions to the show are a scenic woven tapestry depicting mountains and forests, a patchwork jacket with forest-themed prints and a quilted wall hanging decorated with leaf designs.
She said all the pieces in the exhibition are new for this year and she’s hoping that as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed people will feel inclined to see those works in person.
WHAT’S ON … Forest Edge is on display at the Centre Gallery, 590 North Rd., until Aug. 7. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter