Textiles from Indigenous people: The Howard and Wendy Jones Collection
Monday 15th March - April 13th: FCA Gallery
The Howard and Wendy Jones Textiles Collection
Opens Saturday March 27th at 6.30pm
An exciting collection of embroidered, woven and tie dyed textiles from Africa, India, South America and Central America is currently on show at the FCA Gallery at the University of Wollongong, as part of the Tracking Cloth Symposium.
Curators Howard and Wendy Jones, have been travelling the world since the 1970's, purchasing pieces that reflect the variety of creativity that can be produced within the design tradition of a community or village.
"Most cultures have defined colours, motifs and weaving in their textiles processes, yet as a collection, are very different and boast such a creative richness".
Howard began his collection with the purchase of an old traditional Greek wedding dress in the 1970's. With hand spun cotton used for the fabric and detailed embroidery along the bottom, it was the start of 35 year obsession for the Wollongong TAFE lecturer.
Attracted to the artistic expression of cultures in textiles, the Joneses have collected shawls, wedding belts, hair wraps and various clothing, most of which make up the collection.
"There are very cultural and ceremonial significance in the some of the pieces. The wedding belt is from Peru. It is woven by a woman, and given to her husband after 3 years of marriage to verify their union. But he only receives the belt if she is happy with the marriage."
Howard says the pieces are almost entirely made by women because that has been the tradition.
The exhibition at the FCA Gallery (Building 25) of the University of Wollongong, officially opens on Saturday March 27th at 6.30pm and ends April 13th. All welcome to attend.
Howard Jones may be contacted through Sue Blanchfield (Coordinator of the Visual Arts Program at the Faculty of Creative Arts) on ph: 4221 4433.
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