Sunday

Fabric Illustrations 2011




Depicting Nature from Scientific Illustration to Graphic Novels

Friday 6 MAY - Sunday 26 JUNE 2011

Curated and opened by Trevor Weekes
Maitland Regional Art Gallery

RAMBLING  
Royal Newcastle Centre, John Hunter Hospital
20 August - 23 October 2011
 
This new body of work by Olivia Parsonage explores the potential of fabric as an illustrative tool. Although the technique is quite precise, the rambling comes form the imagery that evolves through the sewing process. The background of patchwork fabric informs how the surface layers will develop, creating the texture and atmosphere for the narrative. These fabric illustrations represent a desire for silliness, escapism and fun. They are laboriously made but utterly satisfying on completion.

Wednesday

SOFT in the HEAD (2011) exhibition at PODspace gallery


Soft In The Head is a collection of ‘fabric illustrations’ that Olivia Parsonage has made during 2011. They capture her quirky sense of the absurdity of everyday living. There is a silent narrative to each piece that can be found while enjoying the sinister undertones sewn into each of the works. They are influenced by childhood tales of monsters and folklore fears of nature and animals and everyday moments that make up our human existence.

Each fabric illustration is created from the materials lying around in Parsonage's studio at Newcastle Community Arts Centre. Within this space, she knows her materials and can sort through their contents in search of a particular piece that will be the beginning of a work. She uses a variety of fabrics from heavy upholstery to lightweight cottons and breaks sewing conventions by joining these together.

All of Parsoange’s art is a dissection of her unique view of the world around her. “Life is ultimately ridiculous” she says, adding “In my opinion”.