Congratulations to local artist Janet Steele on being selected as a finalist for the Australian Textile Art Award for her work “Once a Tree” 106 x 50 x 8cm.
Janet Steele’s work is inspired by nature and pays homage to the power of nature. The technique is a wrapping process constructed using double half hitch knots.
Janet studied for a B.A. Visual Arts degree at the University of Newcastle with Jutta Feddersen, and travelled Europe with her. Janet’s first artwork won an emerging artist award in Newcastle. Since then she has exhibited almost annually, has work held in private collections and has several pieces hung in public, including the Recovery Centre, Mallacoota, Victoria.
Janet has been a finalist in Australian Textile Art Awards and Australian Fibre Art Awards.
Janet is currently working with National Trust to draw attention to the need of care for some of our historic trees. There will be an exhibition of her work during November 2024 at Brough House, Church Street, Maitland.
Artist Statement about this Work
“Once I was a tree, majestic, the greatest of Mother Nature’s helpers.
I produced the air you breathed, grew the fruit you needed, I provided safe hiding places where you lived.
I am the custodian of climate knowledge held within my trunk. My roots communicated with the other greats of the forest. My fallen seed grew into the forests around me, my fallen branches kept you warm. All life, creatures and flora, flourished under my boughs.
My timbers built the ships which travelled the world. My timbers built the grand structures where you worship. But Nature is my God.”
Materials and Techniques:
Woollen yarn is wrapped around cotton cord, locked in place by using double half hitch knots. I have concentrated on achieving texture with this work, using cotton cords which varied in thickness and stiffness.
Shaping is achieved with a steel frame and cardboard tubes.
Close up.
Photos “Once a Tree” 106 x 50 x 8cm. Taken by and courtesy of Janet Steele.