See 'A Lifetime Fascination with Fibre' exhibit
"My mother taught me to embroider, knit and crochet when I was about 6 years old," said textile artist Heather Winslow, who grew up in northern Ontario, "where we have very long winters and it helps to have something to do with your hands."
A lifetime later, Winslow's work will be exhibited during her one-woman show Oct. 16-Nov. 21 at Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles. The public is invited to attend the show's opening reception on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m.
"A Lifetime Fascination with Fibre" will present a retrospective timeline of Winslow's life with fabrics, featuring her needlework, weaving, knitting, spinning and dyeing. At least one example of a textile piece she created each decade of her life, so far, will be on display.
Inspired by nature, color is her vehicle for translating nature into fabric. Included the exhibit will be four panels - one for each of the seasons.
"For these, I painted the warps with the colors that are present each season, and then designed weave structures that remind me of each of those seasons," Winslow said. "I designed a cape with icicles woven into it after seeing icicles growing on the bottom side if the ice covering a creek. Abstract flower shapes were woven into a jacket after observing a garden of mixed flowers."
As an artist, Winslow works mainly in the area of handwoven clothing, and said she looks upon her garment designs as "three-dimensional sculptures, which use subtle simplicity to adorn the body in a very positive way, and make the wearer feel special by the very act of putting it on." She often incorporates other fiber techniques such as knitting, crochet, spinning, dyeing, braiding, beading, and needlework to provide unique finishing touches.
Winslow's one-of-a-kind garments have been exhibited internationally and are in several private collections and books. A detail of her favorite piece, an iris cape, graces the cover of Winslow's book about weaving using the Theo Moorman inlay technique, titled "More on Moorman: Theo Moorman Inlay Adapted to Clothing."
An exceptional weaver, teacher and talented artist, Winslow had no formal art instruction and learned on her own through research and experimentation.
"I feel this has been an advantage since it has given me the mind set to be willing to try something just to see if it works," she said. "For someone who had been told as a child that blue and green don't go together, when I liked them together, this has been a very freeing attitude."
A longtime resident of Sugar Grove, Winslow's background is in teaching. She has taught nursing and prepared childbirth, and over the last 35 years has taught weaving, knitting, spinning and dyeing classes at Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles. Winslow has been with Fine Line since its inception in 1979, and was the first teacher hired to help with the classes offered at the art center. Eventually she took over as head of the textile department and she continues to teach weaving as well we knitting, at this distinctive art center.
"I have taught hundreds of students to weave, knit, or spin over the last 35 years, since I teach at Fine Line as well as nationally and internationally. It has been a joy and privilege to share my love of fiber with so many people in so many ways and it is my hope that many of them have been inspired to continue our cherished craft," she said.
A full slate of art classes for adults are offered at Fine Line. Workshops taught by guest artists are also offered each session.
Two galleries, the Dempsey Gallery and the Kavanagh Gallery, host exhibits throughout the year. It is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open and free to the public.
Fine Line Creative Arts Center is located at 37W570 Bolcum Road in St. Charles. Come see the breathe of memorable experiences this renowned art center in St. Charles has to offer! For more information, visit www.fineline.org, or call (630) 584-9443.