Filament Textile Art

2012 Winning Concept - Annette Glare - Architecture

2011-12-26T14:39:00.000+11:00

The winning concept Architecture – won by Annette Glare.

Here are her musings on the word Architecture
Arch
I
Chi
tecture sounds like texture and text

So is that the architecture of architecture (architecture deconstructed
perhaps?)
and the deeper you go the muddier it gets even from what Annette thought was a
straight forward request for a definition
..
1. The art and science of designing and erecting buildings.

2. Buildings and other large structures: the low, brick-and-adobe
architecture of the Southwest.

3. A style and method of design and construction: Byzantine architecture.

4. Orderly arrangement of parts; structure: the architecture of the federal
bureaucracy; the architecture of a novel.

5. Computer Science The overall design or structure of a computer system,
including the hardware and the software required to run it, especially the
internal structure of the microprocessor.

Ask google for a definition of architect

Installation of the Journey Exhibition at St Vincents Hospital 22nd October till 24th November

2011-10-28T13:25:00.001+11:00

Gail Davies, curator for the years exhibition Journeys, spent Friday the 21^st October along with assistants Annette Moylan , Susan Barker and Annette Glare.

The photos below show a snapshot of the work in action. Thanks to the photograph’s of Annette Glare, clicked while she assisted with the installation.

Voting is now underway for the 2012 exhibition. Results will be known in a week’s time.

No time to waste for this creative group

Annette Moylan and Gail Davies

Annette Glare behind the camera

Susan Barker and Gail Davies

2011 Exhibition- Journeys Opens Saturday 22nd October to 24th November

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Definition of ‘Journey’(noun/verb)

An act of going from one place to another; the distance travelled in a specified time.
Aspirational quotes

‘The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.’ Don Williams Jr (Poet)

‘Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before.

Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.’ Erich Fromm (philosopher)

‘Success is not a place at which one arrives but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey.’….and ……

‘Risk is essential. There is not growth of inspiration in staying within what is safe and comfortable. Once you find out what you do best, why not try something else?’ Alex Noble

‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.’ Lao Tzu

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Artists talk about their work.

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Susan Barker

Susan’s work recalls the journey she has made ‘Travelling Away from Tradition’. From the structured, but meticulously sewn Home Economics Teacher. stitch sample and dressmaking techniques of the 1960s to her recent work, which is more abstract in style - bright and colourful but symbolic and free.

Gail Davis,

Gail’s textiles journey has mirrored her growth as a textile artist. She has explored a wide variety of techniques and materials, expanding her horizons and experimenting with process and pushing tradition, while acknowledging its importance. Her work comprises handmade wool felt and silk, with hand embroidery in silk and cotton threads and ribbons.

Annette Glare.

Annette’s journey through South East Asia in 2004 is symbolised by the 69 metres of fabric which she purchased and brought home, (at the expense of other items, which had to remain at the airport!) She has combined fabrics that embody Islamic and Peranakan Chinese influences melded with the indigenous designs of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. She uses English piecing, a favourite technique to showcase these beautiful fabrics

Robin Kaltenbach

The bush and leaves, follow the ‘Tree series’ started several years ago. Robin continues a journey of transporting techniques acquired 20 years ago at TAFE , Printmaking Certificate, onto fabric. This year, a variation on screen printing using the technique of ‘deconstructive screen printing’ then working back with thread into the results This years works reflect Autumn as inspirited by many photos, and collection of the leaves to capture the memories.

Annette Moylan

Experimental natural dying, using leaves and other plant material, is a continuing journey for Annette in ‘Drifting’., A scarf, is folded in half with leaves and wrapped around a stick and The resulting colours are striking tied with string, before being put into a aluminium pot, brought to the boil and simmer

A wall hanging, demonstrate’s Annette’s continuing journey with felting, and dyed with plant dyes.

Linda Taglieri,

Linda, is a Geologist and ‘reader of landscapes’ focuses on physical landscape in her work. She has used her recent travel to the U.S.A. and the Cubist artist “Delaunay‟ as inspiration. On a flight from New York to Los Angeles, the towns of Utah and Nevada glittered like jewels in the velvety dark. This has been captured in hand embroidered metallic thread on black velvet

Teresa Valenti.

"Viaggio', Adrift

The focus of my work this year is my personal 'Language Journal' It reflects my experience of growing up as a first generation Australian of Italian migrant parents. The classic tension between between home and family and the wider world of the1960s/70s Australia. This world was a monoculture, where acceptance depended on assimilation. Much of my knowledge of this world came through the written word. The Italian language of the home was not valued or encouraged, deepening the already present cultural rift. If language was identity, then who was I

Sheralie Wood,

‘Sky Journeys’, Sheralie’s inner journey, and search for understanding, is always reflected in the sky - the spaciousness, the constant change, dark times and turbulence, the eternalness behind the constant change, the beauty and the joy. She finds the sky a constant source of inspiration. In one piece, she combines Kantha and running hand stitch, hand dyed fabric with collage and knitting.

2011 Exhibition- Journeys Opens Saturday 22nd October to 24th November

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Collage Textile Challenge

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The Filament challenge this year was to create a fabric collage 8 square inches, based on the concept we each had for the final work. These works were displayed at the group’s next meeting, and it was easy to see the effects of Deborah’s teachings.

We meet bi monthly at the guilds rooms at Concord West. This meeting involves progress reports, technique sessions and exhibition planning

The dynamism of the group is ensured by a change of members and we welcome Susan Barker whose proven track record with the guild can only add to our success.

Collage workshop with Deborah Marks

2011-02-21T16:55:00.000+11:00

We started the year with a fantastic, stimulating, challenging two day workshop on Design with Collage. Coloured and textured papers, and glue, replaced our normal sewing kit.

We’d all heard about Deborah Marks, who has this wonderful course at WEA in Sydney on Design through collage.

We hired Deborah for a two day workshop, and the results were amazing. We swapped fabric and threads for paper and paste The time just flew by, our fingers were sticky, we traded papers, searched magazines for ‘the right colour’ and were challenged by new ideas. Deborah unique teaching style enabls her to bring out the best in all of us. We didn’t quite complete all that Deborah had planned but we were all thrilled with the results.

After the work was critiqued it remained pinned to the board while we continued on with next exercises. So at the end of the workshop the room was one giant collage.

We were introduced to new artists that helped with our entrée into the world of collage, Kurt Schwitters, Robert Rauschenberg , Joseph Cornell, Frank Stella, Picasso.

Not wanting to stop Annette Robin and Sheralie enrolled at the WEA to further their knowledge. The challenge continues.

Deborah Marks critiquing exercise 2 - Negative Spaces.

New year brings a change of roles

2011-01-07T16:22:00.000+11:00

Our blog was created three years ago by Annette Glare and she has administered the blog brilliantly since then.
Its now time for jobs to change.
Teresa is the new convenor
Gail is curator for the current exhibition
Robin is the blog administrator.
BUT everyone continues to work behind the scenes, filling a variety of roles required for the exhibition

And the winner is...

2010-12-01T17:18:00.004+11:00

Gail Davis won this year's vote with her concept of Journeys - read her idea in full below.
At our last meeing she expanded on her idea:

Definition of ‘Journey’(noun/verb)

An act of going from one place to another; the distance travelled in a specified time.
(The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary)

Initial draft of concept
Contemplation of the concept of ‘journeys’:
embracing movement, development, growth – spiritual or physical.
recollection or memory, prediction, dreams, aspiration, diary, thoughts
actual trips or travels, influences
development of learning and understanding, progress
may include destination, or could be open-ended suggesting a journey incomplete or more adventure
may involve further exploration of cultural journeys undertaken this year or in past years

Inspirational quotes

‘The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.’ Don Williams Jr (Poet)

‘Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before.

Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.’ Erich Fromm (philosopher)

Next Year's Exhibition Concepts

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It will be very hard to move on but three concepts were submitted for next year and they are:

Gail MacDonald
In every part of the world people have a need for idolatry ,shrines, alters, places of worship and or reflection .Some are very primitive and as we know some are extremely (cant think of a nice way of describing it ) perhaps over the top.
The challenge would be: How would you express that need (or lack of) from your own ethnic/personal view point .
You may need to call for divine inspiration to meet this challenge
I am off chant to a blank wall and see what happens

Annette Glare
My concept for 2011 is layers.
This can be as open or obscure as needed. Layers of a trifle/parfait, of the landscape, of geological strata, of meaning, layers of a technique, collage etc.
This includes research into artists who depict layers in their art.

Gail Davis
My concept is: 'Journeys'
I contemplated that the concept of 'journeys' could embrace any movement, development, growth whether physical or spiritual. It could be a travel diary (as presented by Annette M for her piece); it could be a personal resolution or development; or it could be representative of a particular destination.
It is a rather broad concept and interestingly could involve further reflection on this year's work.

Our friends come to visit...

2010-11-21T16:54:00.000+11:00

On Sunday a couple of our friends came with us to have a look at the exhibition. The stitches on Linda's dragon caught Christene and Mary's attention.

Thanks to Teresa - great job as curator

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Teresa (and her husband) spent 5 hours travelling to and from St Vincent's on Friday to install the exhibition. Her ideas and guidance through the year ensured a very sucessful exhibition. We all remarked on how much we liked the idea more and more as the year progressed. It's going to be hard to let go and choose next years concept.

The exhibition is installed...

2010-11-07T22:11:00.008+11:00

Finally it is 9.30 am, Friday 5 November and we are on time to install the exhibition but the glass has not been taken down from the display boards. Panic! An hour later the glass guys are there and we can begin.

Linda and Teresa put up Sheralie's works.

Maybe here?

Gail drops by to help with Anne's works. Anne arranges her map of Belguim.

Information display benefits from Gail and Linda's samplers. The Embroiderers' Guild record and info brochures are loaded into the rack ready for viewers to take.

It's not so great to take the photos when the glass is on but here are the mood boards under glass and oh me!

Anne wasn't happy with what happened to a couple of the leaf prints so she got the glass guys to take the glass down and repositioned the offending prints. Good one Anne!

The glass guys place the glass over the display boards while Annette G shows up in the glass..

Preview of Upcoming Exhibition

2010-09-28T17:27:00.014+10:00

Here is a glimpse of our upcoming exhibition, Worlds of Inspiration, come and see the works at St Vincents, Hospital Darlinghurst from the 6 November 2010 to the 9th December 2010. We each researched a textile tradition or a culture and based our traditional and contemporary works on this research.

Anne - Traditional (Inspiration: Belgian lace)

Anne - Contemporary

Annette G - Traditional (Inspiration: English early 18th Century Coverlet)

Annette G - Contemporary

Gail D Traditional (Inspiration: India)

Gail D Traditional

Gail D Contemporary

Linda - Traditional (Inspiration: Chinese Dragons )

Linda - Contemporary

Margaret - Traditional (Inspiration: Twine Stitch )

Margaret - Contemporary

Robin - Contemporary (Inspiration: Molas, San Blas )

Robin - Contemporary

There is a great video of Molas here:

Sheralie - Sample of Kantha

Sheralie - Contemporary (Inspiration: Kantha, Bangladesh )

Teresa - Contemporary (Inspiration: Persia)

Postcard Round Robin

2010-09-28T15:14:00.002+10:00

Last year we decided to have a postcard Round Robin. We each supplied a piece of fabric for the background and then each postcard was worked on by all of us. Except for a few stragglers they are ready to be exhibited but a couple are camera shy.

Linda's postcard

Teresa's Postcard

Annette G's Postcard

Gail's postcard

Photographing the Works

2010-09-27T22:17:00.000+10:00

Last Sunday we had the photo session for our personal exhibition catalogue. Gail and her husband, Ian, were to have taken the photos but at the last moment Ian had to make a business trip to New York and for once Gail had no family commitments to keep her at home. So Robin stepped in. This year, with the experience of last year as a guide, we were much more organised and it all felt far less chaotic.

Gail Mac helps Sheralie hang her work for photographing.

Robin takes Sheralie's photo for the catalogue

Workshop with Inga Hunter

2010-07-30T12:06:00.002+10:00

Every year we do a workshop that is unrelated to our usual meetings. In the past this has been self directed with one of two of our members leading the day. This year we decided to engage a tutor and chose Inga Hunter. The workshops were held at Inga's studio in the Blue Mountains on Sunday June 27 and at the Embroiderers' Guild HQ on Sunday July 25. Inga works in a variety of mediums and for us she took us out of our comfort zone of textiles and lead us, gently, into the realm of paper through prints and collage. The prints were done on a variety of paper using gelatin blocks. We also talked about where we are individually heading through our art. This afforded us the opportunity to examine what we've done in the past by selecting a number of our previous works to take to the first workshop for discussion. She also encouraged us to think laterally in terms of materials and techniques, the sausage casings she is currently working with took us by surprise.

Here are some of the collages...

Sheralie used some of her leaf prints in her collage.

Robin had a great time doing the collages and produced 5

Annette G did hers while on holidays and used found papers only for her first collage and then, after visiting Falkiners in London, used a variety of papers from their extensive range.

The gelatin block prints were a lot of fun and we produced some interesting results...

Sheralie really got into this technique

Annette liked her results

Our inspiriation for the upcoming exhibition

2010-06-10T17:49:00.001+10:00

Here is a summary of what we will all be investigating for the Worlds of Inspiration exhibition 2010.

Gail has chosen to look broadly at Indian Textiles.

Robin has taken her inspiration from the Molas of San Blas, Panama.

Anne is beguiled by Belgian lace.

Annette G is researching an early 18th Century patchwork that is in the
Victoria & Albert Museum which is currently on display in the Quilt Exhibition.

Annette M's interest is in felting.

Margaret is fascinated by a lace stitch from Greece.

Linda's dragon is Chinese through and through.

Teresa's search for images of Persian embroideries is not as easy as expected - but she loves a challenge.

Sheralie's quest for Kanthas of Bangladesh and India is progressing nicely.

Group Support

2010-05-23T14:32:00.005+10:00

Previously we took it in turns to have mini workshops on a variety of topics and techniques loosely related to the years theme. This year we have changed the format of our meetings. Looking at our focus of exhibiting each year at St Vincents we have directed the emphasis to providing motivation and support for the goal of producing works. We have scheduled half an hour each, over three meetings, to talk about our own research and progress. At each meeting we give a 5 minute progress report and may take the oportunity for a critique from other members or request help to resolve an issue of design or technique.

Gail gives her 5 minute presentation at the April meeting.

Robin chose to give her talk via PowerPoint.

Teresa also discussed the background to her concept in April.

Sheralie tells us the finer points of her research into Kantha from Bangladesh.

Linda explains her progress with Chinese gold dragons.

Anne maps how she is is delving into Belgian lace.

Annette and the elusive pink swatch she search for far and wide but discovered 10 minutes away.

Margaret talks of linen lace and twine stitch.

Tree of Life

2010-05-23T14:03:00.001+10:00

Each year we have a group project. This year, in keeping with exploring various cultural embroideries, Teresa chose the tree of Life. Each piece was to be 8 inches, 20 cms square. These were displayed at the Embroiderers' Guild exhibition at Crows Nest, Sydney at the end of April. Some of us did display boards as well.

Gail chose to base her Tree of Life on an image she had photographed while she was in India.

Teresa chose Persia as her inspiration for her tree of life.

Robin like the project so much she did two - both based on her ongoing study of Molas.

Linda's Tree of Life

Annette took her concept from a Mexican tree of life interpreted in a folk manner

Exhibition 2010: Worlds of Inspiration

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The theme for 2010 is "Worlds of Inspiration". Here is Teresa's proposal which was the one that got the majority of votes.

1. Each person could choose an embroidery technique/techniques from another country/culture and research it.
2. Design one piece based on the technique, used traditionally.
3. Design another piece, using the technique experimentally and/or in a contemporary way.
A suggested name for the exhibition could be 'Worlds of Inspiration'.

As the year has progressed we have all come up with our own concepts. Teresa is exploring Persia. Gail, after an unexpected trip to India last year as part of her Master's degree has, of course, chosen India. Robin's choice of Molas from San Blas, Panama continues her interest in layers. Linda't theme is China, specifically Dragons. Annette G is looking at an early 18th century English embroidered patchwork from the current V&A exhibition.

As members of the Embroiderers' Guild NSW we have been very fortunate to be shown the works in it's collection that relate to our individual topics. We were also delighted to be shown part of a guild member's private collection of Indian Embroideries.

Indian Embroidery from a private collection

Horizons Exhibition

2010-05-10T11:36:00.001+10:00

The Embroiderers' Guild, NSW held its "Horizons" Exhibition on Friday 30th April to Sunday 2nd May 2010, at the Crows Nest centre. Filament was allocated two boards to display works. Thanks to Annette Moylan who installed the works and to Sheralie Woods who took them down we achieved an interesting display. We had been working feverishly to finish the "Trees of Life" that is part of our 2010 theme, "Worlds of Inspiration". More about the Trees of Life later.

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how to get to St Vincents:
http://wwwsvh.stvincents.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=288&Itemid=309

2009 exhibition installed

2009-10-24T01:49:00.005+11:00

Gail, Robin and Annette M installing Donna's work at St Vincent's Friday 23/10.

The view of the works at the southern end of the Xavier corridor.

Annette M and Robin installing Sheralie's natural dyeing pieces.

The four of us at Vinnie's on Friday contributed to the concept of the final board. It was one of those unplanned moments that just happened and we all sparked ideas off one and other. This board shows two small works that Robin and Annette G made as the result of a workshop this year. Gail's catalogue and our logo complete the vignette. Can't quite remember if the blog info made the cut - I suspect not.

Torans decorate Indian doorways to welcome guests. The 7 pieces that make up this Bollywood inspired Toran were each embroidered by a member of the Filament group: Donna Caffrey, Gail Davis, Annette Glare, Robin Kaltenbach, Linda Taglieri, Teresa Valenti, Sheralie Wood.

What inspired us?

2009-10-23T22:20:00.007+11:00

Porte de la Notre Dame
Gail Davis
Whilst on a special trip to Paris, Gail photographed the doors of Notre Dame Cathedral. She loves the florid detail of these doors, at the entrance to this magnificent Cathedral.
Hand dyed silk, commercial wool and cotton. Hand embroidery, applique and quilting.

Chinese Door banner - inspiration for the work below.

Rosette: Door Banner (detail)

Annette Glare with assistance from:

Susan Barker, Christene Boseley, Donna Caffrey, Gail Davis, Helen Harvey, Prue Hill, Robin Kaltenbach, Deborah Kennedy, Jenny Marty, Lorna, Catherine McClellan, Gina Sirabella, Mary Swan, Diana Thomas, Sheralie Wood.

This work is a riff on the Fukien Chinese tradition of placing a ‘Rosette’on doors for auspicious occasions. The Chinese lucky ‘8’ is referenced many times, both in the number of units and the rose drawings by my friends using the number 8.

Hand pieced, quilted and embroidered. Cotton fabric and thread.

Reef Door (detail)

Donna Caffrey

A buoy light marks the entrance to the reef, the bay or the ocean – doors to three different worlds.

A collage of commercial and hand dyed fabric scraps. Hand pieced, machine and hand quilted and embroidered.

Moon Door (detail)

Sheralie Wood

I am interested at the moment in how complicated we make our lives, and in the inherent simplicity that is always there for us. In this piece I contrasted the elaborate interior with the view of the full moon through the doorway – the simplicity of the natural world.

Hand embroidered, dyed and appliquéd. Cotton & metallic fabric, hand dyed silk organza, cotton & metallic thread.

Scene on a Venice Canal (detail)

Annette Moylan

Inspired by my fascination with ancient palaces in varying states of decay, viewed from ferry along the Grand Canal in Venice.

Hand felted, using natural wool fibre, with silk, linen & gauze overlay. Embellished with stitchery & metallic paints.

Title: Indian Door (detail)

Teresa Valenti

The worn, smooth surface of a door hints at the lives and history of those who have touched the aged, distressed wood previously. I am drawn to such textured surfaces, wanting to capture that age and history in fibre and stitch.

Silk background, silk paper, rust and chestnut dyed fabric, felt padding, machine and hand embroidery.

Four Faces of a Volcano (detail)

Linda Tagliari

Four aspects of a volcano: the eruption, lava flow, sulphur vent and volcanic rock formation.

Hand embroidered and quilted. Cotton and polyester fabric, silk and rayon thread.

Beyond the Gate #2 (detail)

Robin Kaltenbach

Inspired by the gate in a remote location at Lakes Entrance, “Who lives behind that gate?”

Silk paper and threads.

Photographing the Works

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Gail and her husband Ian taking photos for our catalogue (in house) and blog.

Robin, curator for 2009, takes photos to use for her hanging plan. Donna looks on.

Ian takes more photos and Annette M looks on.

Teresa scribes each photos details while Linda surveys what is happening at the other end of the room.

...and here we are,

back row: Linda Taglieri, Robin Kaltenbach , Sheralie Wood, Annette Glare, Donna Caffrey,

front row: Gail Davis, Annette Moylan and Teresa Valenti.

Natural Dyeing Day at Virginia Farm Woolworks

2009-10-15T15:29:00.004+11:00

Saturday June 27 this year saw us at Virginia Farm, Annangrove to experiment with natural dyeing. Filament members Sheralie and Teresa led the group through varios experiments. We all have a copy of India Flint's book, Eco Colour. http://www.indiaflint.com/

and worked through flower pounding, solar dyeing, rust dyeing, natural dyeing. Annette G, Gail and Robin are most grateful to Sheralie and Teresa whose experience due to numereous experiments was invaluable on the day.

We used a variety of plant matter including gum leaves, beetroot, tumeric...

...brown onion skins

...rust

Wrapped and tied bundles of fabric containing plant matter and rust waiting to be steamed.

Sheralie introduced us to using a safety pin to attach an identification label. The label is cut from plastic index pages for loose leaf binders. We used a sharpie felt tipped pens and the writing survived the steaming and subsequent washing. The letters and numbers refer to our first name initial and sequential number of the card where the information is recorded.

Bundles being steamed.

Rust dyed fabric with a horse shoe and a pliers.

A piece of felt and the vegetable matter used to dye it.

This fabric was dyed with tumeric root and other vegetable matter.

Fabric and dyeing matter in jars ready for solar dyeing.

Teresa discusses flower pounding with Gail.

Background

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Filament explores personal expression in textile art through collaboration, inspiration and technique.
The Filament Group was formed as a result of an Art Quilt course run by Carolyn Sullivan at The Embroiderers' Guild, NSW in 2006. The group meets at guild head quarters, Concord West, bi-monthly mostly on the last Sunday of the month from 10:00 am to approximately 3:30 pm. We currently have 8 regular members. Our focus is our annual exhibition at St Vincent’s Art Corridor, Darlinghurst.

This year the inaugural competition to select the theme was won by Robin Kaltenbach and here is her blurb for the 2009 exhibition:

Our self directed workshops for 2009 included Torans Bollywood style, Doorways in Relief, Building the Surface, Symbolism, Storyboards, Artist Statements. We also experimented with Natural Dyeing.

“The brief for this year’s exhibition was: 'Doors and Entrances'. Laterally interpreted, this could cover rabbit holes, horse stables, cathedral entrances, Luna Park entrance, entrances to caves (above ground and under), houses apartments etc.

Work shopping for a title, we chose 'Doors of Perception' based on a quote from
William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790-1792)

'If doors of perception cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is: infinite.'

The results of these workshops and works based on our theme as well as individual works can all be viewed at our 2009 exhibition.

This has allowed enormous scope for the individual textile artists to interpret”.

Our self directed workshops for 2009 included Torans Bollywood style, Doorways in Relief, Building the Surface, Symbolism, Storyboards, Artist Statements. We also experimented with Natural Dyeing.

2008 Exhibition inspired by AGNSW exhibition The Arts of Islam

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Our 2008 exhibition at St Vincent's art corridor had a theme of Arabesque following a visit to the Art Gallery of NSW's exhibition, The Arts of Islam.

Typical of Islamic ornamentation from c.1000, the arabesque is a complex style of decoration characterised by repetitive geometric patterns, the interlacing of plant and animal forms, and abstract curvilinear motifs. Although the actual style was derived from Hellenic craftsmen in Asia Minor, the term arabesque was coined in the 15th or 16th century when Europeans became interested in the Islamic arts. Regarded as both an art and a science, the arabesque is mathematically precise, aesthetically pleasing, and symbolic. It encompasses both religious and secular art.

Arabesque geometric artwork was not used until the golden age of Islam in which ancient texts were translated from their original Greek and Latin into Arabic at the House of Wisdom. When the works of Plato and Euclid became extremely popular, it was Euclid's geometry as well as Pythagoras' foundations of trigonometry that were expounded on by Al-Jawhari circa 860. His Commentary on Euclid's Elements went on to become the starting point of the Arabesque art form.
The style was often employed to cover entire surfaces. Usually found decorating the walls of mosques, the geometric patterns and shapes that are chosen and the way they are formatted is based upon the Islamic view of the world. According to the Muslim faith, this iconography comes together to create an endless pattern which symbolises the eternal nature of Allah.

Donna Caffrey

Annette Glare

Lesley Grigg

Robin Kaltenbach

Annette Moylan

Gail Davis

Linda Tagleri

Gail Davis