Thursday, October 30, 2014

Fashion as Art, Art as Fashion

A recent submission (above)  for the Fate, Destiny and Self Determination international (tapestry) installation is from Maite Tanguy . She has distinguished hereself in her weaving practice in Paris France for the last 10 years by creating art /fashion fabrics for Haute Couture such as Balenciaga, Christian Lacroix, Celine, Bouchra Jarrar, and Proenza Schouler. She enjoys these collaborations and describes them as robust and envigorating experiences but also challenging and demanding in terms of productivity. She has had numerous exhibitions in Latin America and has participated in "Artextures" , an exhibition of fibre art in France directed by Marie Francine Brochard. 

detail of  shape by Maite Tanguy
 She loves to travel and weave connection with others which she considers very important...weaving ...people and threads - the fibre that gives meaning to her life! In her 20s she acquired her skills at sewing fashionable clothes in Paris and at night she worked on her own creations, where she discovered her gift for colour and her passion for it. When she was unable to find the kinds of fabrics she wanted to sew, she decided that she had to weave her own in order to create the garments she imagined. When she was 30 her parents gave her a weaving loom and the process was an ecstatic experience and embarked in studying textiles and weaving at the atelier National d'Art Textile under Genevieve Dupeux. 

detail of shape by Maite Tanguy
Weaving for Maite is also about transmitting it to others and she has been giving classes for the last 30 years at workshops in Vanves, a suburb of Paris.
Winkles or periwinkles were a great source of creative inspiration for many of Maite's works. 

Maite says she loves fibre art because she loves to use it to share her stories and love for nature. After a rigorous spell of production fashion weaving she realized she needed more creative time, and time to express what was important to her. Marine life are great sources of inspiration for her work. 


Another important element for creative work is silence. She feels it nourishes her creativity, and helps her to release the flow of ideas, further  rejuvenating and revitalizing her in so many ways. Its all the sweeter when many opportunities like exhibitions, have resulted with her being true to her calling and direction and honouring what she needs to have her in life. 

Maite's website: http://arts-up.info/MBR/page_dediee/galerie.php?id=286
other websites featuring her work:
http://www.aiguille-en-fete.com/A-la-decouverte-de-Maite-Tanguy-creatrice-de-tissus-uniques-et-inspires_a1052.html

http://www.ateliersdeparis.com/pro.php?pro=911

Meanwhile back in the weaving class at the Toronto Weaving School, tapestry students have been impressing me immensely with their latest endeavours.

Gert Rogers created this lovely tapestry based on a photograph taken decades ago of her very fashionable sister. She framed the tapestry and will be giving it to her niece, her sister's daughter. 

Jamileh Emdadian just started taking my weaving classes only a few weeks ago and already she completed her sampler (which you saw in my last post). She created the design for this tapestry in a spontaneous way not working with a cartoon. 

Don't forget that the World of Threads fibre art exhibitions are going on in Oakville and they are opening this weekend. Check their website for all their locations.

1 comment:

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