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Jolie Bird 11/28/19 Jolie Bird 11/28/19

8. ropes dye stick.jpg — The Discipline of Constructing

Stride Gallery, January 17th- March 6th, 2020.

Opening Reception
Friday, January 17 @7pm

In Anni Albers’ famous text Tactile Sensibility, the dedicated weaver stresses the importance of the tactile materiality rooted in the act of making, in craft: “we touch things in order to assure ourselves of reality. We touch the objects we love. We touch the things we form.” 'The discipline of constructing' by Jolie Bird is an ode to the process of making through the cadences of intimacy between the artist, her tools, and materials. The exhibition collates weavings, textile installation, in-gallery performances, and idea and skill sharing with the community. Throughout the duration of the show, Bird will be working in a representational artist’s studio, complete with a four-harness floor loom, assorted weaving tools, materials and snippets from her recent trip to Japan that informs the new body of work. Bird will also lead two workshops on the historical and cultural context of rope and knot making allowing participants to experience the tactile act of making both practical and decorative objects with their own hands.

Jolie Bird is a fibre artist who lives and works in Calgary, Alberta. She completed her MFA at NSCAD University, Halifax in 2013 and has also studied at the Alberta University of the Arts, Capilano University, North Vancouver, and the Kawashima Textile School in Kyoto. Bird works predominantly with fibre but also includes other mediums, found objects, and installation into her practice. She is drawn to slow techniques like hand-stitching, weaving, and wrapping for the investment of time needed to complete the work. Repetitive and slow-building in nature, the process becomes mentally and physically demanding, while at the same time feeling intuitive and somewhat meditative. Working slowly with simple tools and only her hands, she forms an intimate connection with the artwork. Her work has been exhibited locally, nationally and in the United States.

Stride Gallery is located in Mohkinstsis, the traditional territories of Treaty 7 people. Our activities take place on the land that was, for a long time, stewarded and cared for by the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Iyarhe/Stoney Nakoda people comprising the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.

Stride Gallery is partially accessible - the Main Space is wheelchair accessible, while the washrooms and the Project Space are not.

Jolie Bird 11/27/19 Jolie Bird 11/27/19

Thing to Wear

A collection of Kimono inspired garments by Bill Morton and his students.
Curated by Jolie Bird

Thing to Wear is a collection of kimono-inspired garments created by students, staff, faculty, and alumni from the Alberta University for the Arts (AUArts) under the expert guidance of Associate Professor, Bill Morton. Upon returning from Japan in 1983, Bill began teaching in the Fibre Program at AUArts (previously Alberta College of Art + Design). During this time, he also offered kimono construction and painting on silk workshops at Pearson College UWC, Red Deer College and the University of Alberta. Students enrolled in Bill’s courses have had the opportunity to produce kimono, and over the last five years, he has generously offered a kimono construction workshop twice a year to anyone in the school with a desire to learn. Many of the pieces are innovative, incorporating fibre processes such as digital printing, papermaking and eco printing alongside traditional methods like weaving, brush blending, wax resist, indigo, and potassium permanganate dyeing. Programming including a gallery tour, technical demonstrations by AUArts Fibre majors, and a talk with Bill provide some historical context into panel garments from Japan, and his experience working under master dyer, Kunio Isa.

Bill Morton is a Calgary-based artist and teacher. His work is collected and shown in the United States, Japan, China and Canada. A graduate of the Alberta College of Art (1967), he studied in Japan from 1969 to 1983 including ten years apprenticing with a Master Dyer.

“My process is open-ended, offering limitless opportunities for exploration of colour and pattern. Each piece reflects a particular state of mind. The techniques I use take time and patience and require focus as unanticipated variations can occur when material, colour and process coalesce into something new.” -Bill Morton

November 21- December 14th, 2019

Public Programs

Gallery Tour with Jolie Bird and Bill Morton
Thursday November 21, 2019
1-2pm

Shibori Demo with Jolie Bird
Saturday November 23, 2019
2-4pm

Weaving Demo with Jingyi Ye
Sunday November 24, 2019
Tuesday November 26, 2019
Tuesday December 3, 2019
Tuesday December 10, 2019
Thursday December 12, 2019
2-4pm

Silk Painting Demo with Bill Morton
Thursday November 28, 2-4pm
2-4pm

Stencil Cutting Demo with Bill Morton
Thursday December 5, 2-4pm
2-4pm

Kimono Life Drawing
Hosted by Noah Richardson and Chichi Kimono
Supported by the Calgary Japanese Community Association

Saturday November 30, 2019
2-4pm
Thursday December 5, 2019
6-8pm
Saturday December 7, 2019
2-4pm

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