Six unique artists explore connection through textile art. Dorie Millerson worked with needle lace to create pieces that blend light, shadow and imagery. Each piece took 50 to 150 hours. "When you spend so much time, you really get to know the subject," says Millerson. "I wanted to bring my drawings into sculpture." Jozef Bajus assembled pieces with paper materials such as "Black Cheerios" (2005), a pop-up paper display with printed black tires. Pat Hickman's work using translucent gut gives a haunting feel, particularly in "Ripples" (2006), where geckos are curiously shaped in gut casings. Sherri Smith puts an interesting twist on cartography by using space imagery provided by NASA to create intricate woven pieces. Doug Guildford's crochet skills are impressive. "Rope" (2005-present) is a beautiful hanging piece in vibrant red and "Salvage" (2000) is elegant in regal silver. Martha Stanley took the harder road. She learned the techniques used by the ancient Pueblo culture by deconstructing a pair of Anasazi sandal soles. The result is a spin on the modern rug. "I used a few dyes within the same gene pool to get more colour," says Stanley. "The design came out of the threads."
A Very Long Engagement
To March 3, 494-2403
Dalhousie Art Gallery, 6101 University Avenue
