Contemporary textile artists who symbolically and materially bridge what divides us. At the Australian Tapestry Workshop until February 26, curated by Kevin Murray
Read MoreUpwelling Exhibition 2020
A recent group exhibition at Castlemaine’s Lot 19.
Read MoreSturt Summer School 2020
Learn to make spiral rag rugs with Ilka at Sturt Summer School 2020..
Read MoreInterwoven 2019
INTERWOVEN
A cross-cultural + trans-generational weaving collaboration of La Trobe Art Institute + Multicultural Arts Victoria, Bendigo Emerge Cultural Hub
.INTERWOVEN will open at 12 noon next Monday September 9th with Aunty Marilyne Nicholls' Awakening of Bunya.
Bunya is the original Dja Dja Wurrung name for the ringtail possum.
You are invited to come and help weave Bunya's coat in the gallery over the course of the project. .
Venue: LaTrobe Art Institute - 121 View St, Bendigo .
INTERWOVEN@latrobe_ai
Performing Drawing – National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2018
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Parkes Place, Parkes, ACT
Dates: 1 September 2018 – 20 January 2019
Drawings, photographs and audio visual works from the NGA’s collection.
Performing Drawing focuses on chance and change, exploring how actions can become art. This complex and considered exhibition highlights improvised gestures, hand-built machines and walking as methods of documenting direct experience, expanding the possibilities of what drawing can be in contemporary art practice.
Featuring Marco Fusinato, Nicci Haynes, Joyce Hinterding, Gabriella Mangano, Silvana Mangano, David Moore, Sarah Mosca, Cameron Robbins, David Rosetzky, Justine Varga, Ilka White, Gosia Wlodarczak, and John Wolseley.
nga.gov.au/performingdrawing
Project Gallery | Level 1
Free entry
Spring News 2018
Hello everyone,
Yes, it’s been a while since I sent news!
I’ve been focussed on putting down roots in my new home this year, and some of them are literally bearing fruit now that Spring is really here. I’ve enjoyed making new connections, planting and watching my garden flower and set seed.
My work is still getting out and about though.
In exhibition news, my 2008-09 video work ‘Drawing Breath’ is currently showing at the National Gallery of Australia in the exhibition ‘Performing Drawing’ – curated by Sarina Noordhuis-Fairfax.
A selection of ‘poetic diagrams, momentary maps and incidental portraits that reveal the expanding possibilities of what drawing can be’.
This piece was made after walking the beach on Bruny Island some years back and coming across an exquisite piece of seaweed whose spread form and movement on the water led me to reflect on inhalation, exhalation and cycles both temporal and visceral.
My newest work, ‘The leaf has a song in it’ is currently showing here in Castlemaine at the Lot19 Spring Sculpture show. This ritual/performative cloth of wool and silk was made for a recent eco-spirituality gathering and named from a line of Mary Oliver’s superb poem ‘What can I say’. It was coloured using 16 locally gathered natural dyes: Red Ironbark, Yellow Box, Cherry Ballart, Drooping Mistletoe, Treasure St Gum, Bullarto Gum, Prunus Plum Leaves, Pomegranate Skins, Red & Brown Onion Skins, Avocado Pips, Gorse Flowers, Periwinkle and Oxalis.
Details of both these exhibitions are listed below, along with the year’s remaining classes and events for your enjoyment – Feel free to pass around to others.
Next year my teaching offerings will include Introduction to Weaving Courses in Castlemaine, Fairfield and Warrandyte area. Let me know if you’d like to join in.
You can also click here for news whenever you’re curious.
Best Spring wishes,
Ilka
Spring News 2017
SPRING NEWS
Hello everyone!
We’re slowly easing into Spring here in Victoria and the bush is awash with wattle.
My Winter highlight was a 6 week textile jewellery project with Yarrenyty Arlterehttp://www.yarrenytyarltereartists.com/ in Alice Springs. It’s been a great privilege to work in this shimmeringly beautiful country with such gracious and resilient artists.
The soft sculptural jewels that grew from our time together have been really well received at Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and a select few (below) are now showing in Desert Mob, Central Australia’s major Indigenous Art event, until 22 October.
To purchase, contact Araluen Art Centre on (08) 8951 1122, or email sophie.wallace@tangentyere.org.au (Be quick - two have already sold!)
Bush dyed blanket, silks, cyanotype, ininti seeds and wool. $850 - $880 ea.
Left to Right:
Marlene Rubuntja “The lines are like water running through the country; this could make you feel sad or happy”
Rhonda Sharpe “To keep you strong in the heart when you wear this, and safe”
Dulcie Raggett “This little bird might bring love letter- it might come true if you wear this necklace” SOLD
Louise Robertson “Sewing country all over this necklace, makes you feel connected, know where we belong”
Marlene Rubuntja “My full up bush handbag coolamon necklace- why not!” SOLD
Some of our work in progress is now on my website under Yarrenyty Artlere, http://ilkawhite.com.au/portfolio/yarrenyty-arltere/ along with last year’s project in Broome with Nagula Jarndu http://ilkawhite.com.au/portfolio/nagula-jarndu/.
I also enjoyed teaching at Central Craft in Alice and all over town since coming home.
The Artist Collective Field Theory brought me into their Bunker project at ACCA to workshop textile skills for survival as part of the Greater Together Exhibition.
I have another Certificate Weaving Course underway at the Guild with terrific students and my workshops continue from Williamstown to Brunswick, up to Kyneton and on to Newstead’s lovely Arts Hub.
In other News … I’m returning to my regional roots!
From November I’ll be based in Castlemaine and look forward to teeing up more country offerings in time, alongside my regular Melbourne favourites. Right now I’m preparing work for Lot 19’s Spring Sculpture Show – details below.
I have tools and will travel, so let me know if you’d like me to visit your part of the world.
Best Spring wishes,
Love Ilka
Instagram: @ilkawhite https://www.instagram.com/ilkawhite/?hl=en
Images: Bill Pheasant & Sophie Wallace (Yarrenyty Arltere), Bradley Garrett & Anna Schoo (Field Theory)
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Autumn News 2017
New classes for 2017..
Read MoreAdelaide 2013
'Desert Life' is featured in the exhibition 'Spinifex Country' at Flinders University City Gallery, Adelaide from 5 October - 8 December 2013.Traditionally spinifex has been an important resource for Aboriginal people – foremost as a source of resin and as a building material for windbreaks and shelters. Presenting spinifex in its material form, as a subject and as a marker of identity, the exhibition also flags non-Indigenous interests in this perennial grass.
2013 NGA Acquisition
The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra has acquired the video work ‘Drawing Breath’ for their collection of Australian prints and drawings.
Thinking and building in 3D – Textiles and beyond…
July 7-11 Five day intensive. CrossXpollination in Colac.Experience new ways of thinking and making in 3D! Explore a variety of approaches to sculptural construction in this hands-on course.
Read MoreNext Step Weaving
August / September Short course - Monday Evenings at the Handweavers and Spinners Guild, North Carlton. For those who have completed an introductory class and/or understand the basics and would like to move ahead with their weaving...
Read MoreTextiles in Contemporary Art and Design
Friday 17 April. An illustrated talk at The School of Lost Arts. Join Ilka for an exciting survey of Contemporary Textiles in the Fine Art and Design fields.
Read MoreEmbracing Design for Weaving - Bendigo
BOOKED OUT!
Read MoreFringes and Tassels
Combine simple spinning and weaving methods to create your own beautiful trims.
Read MoreCreative Double Weave
8 week course exploring the challenge & potential of Double Weave structures.
Read MoreExtra Warp Patterning
Explore the theory and practice of extra warp patterning on 8 shafts or more.
Read MoreHolding Water: Place-responsive art intensive
Shepparton Art Museum’s Summer Art experience. January 14 – 16, 2014
Read MoreWeaving Extension Group.
Just 1 Sunday left in Semester 2 ! At the gorgeous University of the Front Room, Northcote. A small extension class for weavers who understand the basics and have their own table loom...
Read MoreSlipstitch - Contemporary Embroidery Workshop
Saturday August 1st. Explore embroidery’s capacity for drawing and communication in this afternoon workshop.
Read More