Wallace Gallery hosts woven art

Part garment, part protection, part disguise. From Dracula to Zorro, the versatile cloak has a long and fascinating history.

A new travelling exhibition of woven artworks celebrates the magic and mystery of this iconic garment.

Opening at Morrinsville’s Wallace Art Gallery on October 1, Cloak: Variations on a Theme brings together some of New Zealand’s most talented weavers for an exhibition that blends imagination, skill and creative flair.

Featuring over 30 stunning artworks, including wearable cloaks, wall hangings and sculptures, this new show explores the cloak’s symbolic power through the ages, from ancient mythology to popular culture.

Cloak is the brainchild of the Professional Weavers Network, a group of leading weavers from across New Zealand.

‘‘We’re a pretty diverse group of people, and we’ve all interpreted the theme in different ways,’’ says weaver Marilyn Rea-Menzies.

Featured artists range in age from early 40s to a 99-year-old, and many have won major awards and exhibited their work internationally.

‘‘In creating our own individual designs, we thought about the varied forms, uses and symbolism of cloaks,’’ says Rea-Menzies.

Over the centuries, cloaks have been associated with ceremonial clothing, burial shrouds, science fiction, magic and theatre.

Both mystical and practical, this evocative garment has graced the shoulders of Maori leaders, Medieval monks, opera buffs, rock stars, villains and superheroes.

Inspirations for the artworks on show include the dragons of Norse mythology, the Maori goddess of night Hinenui-te-po¯, Muslim women’s headwear and the Crusaders (both the rugby team and the religious zealots of old).

Other works take their cue from nature – a rainbow’s glowing arc, the curved fronds of tree ferns, the case moth’s clever layers of camouflage, or the need to protect endangered native birds. Materials range from silk, feathers and harakeke to wool, mohair, leather, linen, beads, plastic and estasi, a light-reflecting synthetic fibre.

This vibrant show will appeal to anyone with an interest in art, craft, fashion, design, or the creative imagination.