Art exhibit is in the rough
Photography and textiles touch on McCahon residency
An intriguing exhibition of textile art and photographs by Christchurch-based artist Emma Fitts opens at Parlour Projects Gallery in Hastings this weekend.
The title, In the Rough: Part 2 comes from Anni Albers’ book On Weaving. In her book, Albers writes about our tactile sensitivity and the surface quality of material, saying “we touch things to assure ourselves of reality but most of our experiences today are with pre-formulated material rather than unformed material”. This unformed material is referred to as “in the rough”.
The installation includes three large digital prints (a collaboration with Auckland stylist Neave Woodham), two large hanging textile works which include painting/collage and two smaller weavings, a sampler series that combine charms and jewels into the fabric.
The works are all centred on the McCahon home in Titirangi, Auckland, and were produced during Fitts’ McCahon Residency this year.
“I went to McCahon House with the idea of looking at the life Colin and Anne led, the two of them together and how that informed their body of work. They collaborated a lot with other artists. They were known as quite difficult people but also social, they would chat and meet up with friends and relied on their social networks.”
Fitts also finds collaborations with other artists and designers rewarding.
“It is a helpful way to build confidence. Now I work mostly on my own but I bring others in with my projects, it is how I want to live as an artist with support networks and it is those conversations about how you work that are so important — it isn’t just about making work.”
Textiles and tactility is at the centre of her practice using weaving, painting on fabric and collage. Photography is also becoming an important part of her practice. Fitts is entering into an imaginative dialogue between the McCahons and other historical figures who are artists and designers, getting to understand their lifestyles, how they lived and communicated, through their work.
The Parlour Projects show is Part 2 of a three-part series. Part 1 was shown at The National in Christchurch this year and, with Part 3, will be shown complete at Te Uru Gallery in Titirangi.
Fitts completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury in 2002 and a Master of Fine Arts from the Glasgow School of Art in 2010. She returned to New Zealand last year and teaches sculpture at Canterbury.
InTheRough:Part2: November 9December 8, 2018. The public is invited to attend an opening reception for In The Rough: Part 2 this Friday, November 9, from 5pm to 7pm at 306 Eastbourne St East, Hastings.