"Art Textiles," an exhibition of handwoven work by Portland artist Sheila Shanti, is on view at Maine Fiberarts in Topsham now through November 30. A Meet the Artist Reception will be held on Sunday, November 8, from 2-5 p.m., and the public is invited to attend. Shanti will offer a Gallery Talk about her process from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
Inspired by a love of textiles and by the weaving and dyeing processes she's studied over the years, Sheila Shanti works at her studio in Portland to create beautifully patterned handwoven fabrics with natural dyes using a variety of techniques. Shanti majored in Textiles at the Philadelphia College of Art, studied with Olga de Amaral, an internationally-renown Columbian fiber artist, and learned the Japanese textile techniques of "Katazome" (www.johnmarshall.to/5-EDx-WhatIsKatazome.html) and of "Tsutsugaki" (www.johnmarshall.to/5-EDx-Tsutsugaki.html) from John Marshall in California. She first learned the ikat technique, which is represented in many of her pieces in the current show, at a handweavers' "Convergence" conference in San Jose, California in 1990.
"Ikat" dyeing is a very ancient technique which has fascinated people throughout the world. India, Thailand, Japan, and Guatemala are famous for their ikats, but this technique has been used in Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and just about anywhere there are weavers. The technique basically is one of wrapping threads to resist the dye. The challenge is to control the wrapping and dyeing process so that the dyed threads create a pattern or image when woven. There are two main types of ikat: warp and weft, as well as a combination of the two. In warp ikat, the dyed threads remain more or less fixed in position as they move through the loom. With weft ikat, the dyed thread moves back and forth as the fabric is woven, each row adding another series of blips in the larger pattern. In most ikats, the weaving structure is very simple because the design is in the threads.
About her work, Shanti says, "I am fascinated by the unlimited diversity of pattern even when simple shapes are used. The mystery is in attempting to predict the unpredictable. One always feels at the edge of randomness. To be involved in the dyeing and weaving of ikat is to be a witness to the balance between control and chaos. It is magical."
What she enjoys most about her work is designing and weaving yards and yards of "accent" fabric to be used in drapes and upholstery, bringing harmony, color and distinctive style to individual home and building interior design. She has done contract production weaving for use in upholstery, and did contract dye work for Marian Clayden, a couture fashion designer in California. While living in Arizona in the 90's, Shanti once wove a custom order of 110 yards of drapery fabric for Taliesin West, (www.franklloydwright.org) the Frank Lloyd Wright architectural firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, for use in a house in Massachusetts.
Her work has been shown in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, in Maine at Schoodic Arts for All at Hammond Hall in Winter Harbor, at her previous studios in Prospect Harbor and Milbridge, and at her current gallery showroom in Portland.
Since moving to Maine in 2004, she has learned handspinning, and is intrigued by discovering what she can do with dyeing fleece before spinning and weaving it.
Throughout November to January, Shanti will offer weaving classes in both the ikat technique and in dip-dye weaving at the Portland Fiber Gallery and Weaving Studio in Portland.
Maine Fiberarts is a statewide nonprofit arts organization located at 13 Main Street in Topsham, open weekdays 10-4. The group published a 2009-2012 edition of its popular Maine Fiberarts Tour Map, and Sheila Shanti's Portland studio is one of 134 sites listed. To see a preview of Shanti's work, or to learn more about Maine Fiberarts, visit www.mainefiberarts.org or phone 207-721-0678.
For more information:
Contact:
Phone: 207/721-0678
email:
WWW: mainefiberarts.org
