Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo)
Stitching is a language a way to express myself.
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Saturday, 16 April 2016
Monday, 11 April 2016
Sunday, 28 February 2016
Updates and Stitching
It's nearly March and I'm busy getting work ready for different events and exhibitions which are not far off now.
In a few weeks time, I'm looking forward to meeting members of Leicester Embroiderers Guild, where I will be giving a talk and taking a selection of my textiles and various sketchbooks.
I have just finished framing new small works which will be on display at The NEC, Fashion, Embroidery, Stitch show, I will be demonstrating on the Madeira threads stand from the 17th March until 20th March.
These are landscape fragments, taking inspiration from my drawings of nature but also of personal experiences.
You will see me working on new textile work for my Enchanted Landscape gallery, for the Knitting and Stitching Show in Edinburgh, opening on the 28th April.
I'm pleased to say that I will be taking part in Warwickshire Open Studios again this year, June 18th -3rd July, but this time as part of an exciting group exhibition at The ArtistsWorkhouse in Studley, a vibrant artists community, gallery and studios.
So thankfully, its all fairly busy, not only with stitching, but painting canvases, sorting admin ( eek!) teaching and meeting fellow artists.
Best wishes
Michala
Saturday, 2 January 2016
Enchanted Landscapes at The Knitting & Stitching Shows
After India |
It was a very busy Autumn, starting with The Knitting & Stitching Show in London in October for five days, then Dublin and Harrogate in November!
I was very lucky to be able to bring all my larger textile works together for the first time in my exhibition and also to show a selection of my sketchbooks with smaller stitched pieces.
What an amazing experience, meeting so many lovely people who are incredibly enthusiastic about textiles.
I had no idea that so many students were studying my work at schools and colleges, it really was quite over whelming, but also wonderful to know that I have played some part in a younger generations creative journeys.
The show has a great selection of talented makers working in a vast array of materials and so many exciting stalls with threads, wools, fibres and materials. ( yes, I did buy more threads!!)
I'm pleased to say that I have been invited to exhibit my gallery Enchanted Landscapes with the Knitting & Stitching Show when it launches for the first time in Scotland.
The show will be coming to Edinburgh, 28th April to 1st May 2016 at The Royal Highland Centre.
This year I will also be demonstrating on The Madeira Threads stand at The Fashion Embroidery Stitch show at the NEC in March.
Then in December I will be showing my work as part of a touring exhibition, more news about this to follow.
I have now produced a full colour, paper back book of my work, showing my textiles, drawings and paintings, priced £10.00 it will be available at the shows I visit.
I am also able to post out my book if you wish to order it, please either email me or contact me via my website.
You will also find a section about my art work in the inspiring Through Our Hands portfolio, this book is available on the Through Our Hands website.
It's back to my stitching and you can now also follow me on Instagram @michalagyetvai.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year
Michala
Detail of Seas of Grass |
Books |
My Stand at The Knitting and Stitching Show 2015 |
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Lots of Stitching with Through Our Hands part 1 !
My Sea Picture |
Laura Kemshall |
Bobby Britnell |
Alicia Merrett |
Annabel Rainbow |
Clare Smith |
Mirjam Pet-Jacobs |
Quilt on wall by Bente Vold Klausen |
Bethan Ash |
Eszter Bornemisza |
Susan Lenz |
Quilt on the floor by Linda Kemshall, back wall Elizabeth Barton , hanging work Els van Baarle
Apologies for a great delay in updating my blog, due to my problems logging in again ( hopefully sorted now) and just a lot of things happening, stitching, exhibitions, holidays etc...
I have also been using Facebook and instagram as an immediate way of updating news.
My blog missed out on an event I had in June / July at The Bilston Craft Gallery with the international textile group Through Our Hands.
Here are a few images of the exhibition, which had some fantastic work from textile artists from all over the world, sorry I have not got all the artists here, but you will find more on the Through Our Hands website.
This group also came together to exhibit at The Festival of Quilts and you may be pleased to know that there is now a portfolio publication available to purchase ( from the Through Our Hands website ) with information on all the artists and their work.
We have recently had two brilliant new artists join our group, Jenni Dutton and Sue Stone who exhibited with us at The Festival of Quilts, blog post to follow!
I am at this very moment, in the midst of stitching and organising my exhibition "Enchanted Landscapes" for The Knitting and Stitching Shows, opening October 7th at Alexandra Palace London and then on to Dublin and Harrogate.
This is my first opportunity to show all my large textiles together including my latest work and a range of my sketchbooks.
I hope to see you there!
Michala x
|
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Inspired By India & Exhibition News
My sketch book " India" |
Jaipur |
Elephant Ride at The Amer Fort |
Sundar Rang |
I thought I would share more of my time spent in India, an immensely inspiring place, particularly to me, as country which has a strong cultural identity through its crafts and textiles.
After a few days
spent in Bangalore I had a surprise journey to Rajasthan to visit the
"pink city” Jaipur and then a five hour drive to the "blue city"
of Jodhpur.
In Jaipur we
visited the stunning Amer Fort a short tuk tuk ride from the city centre. On route you can see a serene floating palace on a large lake where you can stop and take photos.
We rode on the back of colourfully painted elephants up to the gates of the Amer fort.
This imposing building is covered in beautiful paintings and glass mosaics.
Our driver took us to a spectacular white marble temple with ornate carvings; an abundance of wild life greeted us, hundreds of wild monkeys leaping along the walls of the ancient monuments.
We stayed in the
small village of Chandelao in the elegant 18th century Rajput style hotel
Chandelao Garh .
We watched wild
peacocks and flocks of squawking, emerald green parrots on the roof top terrace
as the sun went down.
In the village
we bought handicrafts made by the women, they told us that the aim of the
project named Sundar Rang, is to support the local craft skills and develop
high quality products with unique Rajasthan designs, thus creating a
sustainable source of income for the women in Chandelao village.
The women took pride
in showing us how they stitched the great range of textile goods and they were
delighted to learn that I too worked in threads!In the morning we left and drove on, visiting the Imposing Merangarh Fort perched high above a wave of blue and turquoise painted buildings; the city of Jodhpur.
It was a
fantastic experience; the fort houses exquisite paintings, textiles, sculpture,
glass and mosaics. The architecture
is spectacular, as is the walled gardens, with many different exotic plants and
trees.
Chandelao Garh |
Jodhpur " The Blue City" |
As you may know, I'm a member of the international textile group Through Our Hands and we have an exhibition opening called "The Liberated Quilt" on Saturday15th May at The Bilston Craft Galley in Wolverhampton.
"The Liberated Quilt provides a showcase for 23 international artists working mainly with stitched textile techniques, including quilt-making and embroidery. Their work challenges and expands the boundaries of textiles, showing how innovative ideas can evolve from a traditional art form. Strong narratives, bold visions, and raw emotional response are key features of the work on show. Curated by Through Our Hands, this exhibition offers the opportunity to experience work by textile artists considered to be amongst the best in the world. - See more at: http://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/events/liberated-quilt-new-work-hands/#sthash.EeGYkaOO.dpuf
I'm looking forward to seeing a fantastic range of textile art in this wonderful spacious gallery.
I will be there at the opening in the afternoon, with some of the other members of Through Our Hands.
I do hope that you may get chance to visit.
Friday, 17 April 2015
My Images Of India
A page from my sketch book |
It was a
very lucky Friday 13th of February I arrived in India, to spend two sun filled weeks,
with my sister Nicola and her family in Bangalore. They arrived here from
Warwickshire in the UK on “their adventure" two years ago.
My sister’s life
changing experience has impacted on my life of art.
I am an artist
and I work not only with paint but with textiles, about five years ago, I went
through a very stressful time and in order to cope I found comfort in stitching
onto old woollen blankets.
My subjects are
landscapes and figures developed from intense periods of drawing and
painting. I layer my experience into the landscape so that it becomes
psychologically charged with my own memories, emotions, narratives, dreams, and
poems.
The passion and
freedom encountered in the immediacy of sketching is developed and channelled
through paintings, and then consolidated into textile pieces. Labour and
repetition are central to this process and depending on the scale the finished
embroidered textile can take many months to complete.
On my first morning I learnt about the fascinating art of Indian block printing under the shade of mango trees. This was with Poonam in Whitefield’s on the Nallur Halli main road in Bangalore.
We printed, intricate repeating designs with hand carved wooden blocks onto white cotton cloths.
The next day we
walked through glades of patterned palm trees in Palm Meadows, then through the
chaos of the city, to reach the small multi-coloured painted villages.
Animals such as
cows, goats and dogs were in abundance, amongst buildings, temples and swarming
traffic, so integrated that they weaved with man amongst the tirade of
vehicles.The intensity of colour is intoxicating and exhilarating, everywhere I turned colour and pattern overwhelmed me, even coloured washing, hanging against the bright walls became exciting!
I was amazed by
the fruits, vegetables and flowers piled high on rickety wooden carts by the side
of the red dusty roads.
I loved the
petals and flowers arranged artfully floating in water bowls, the chalk patterns
drawn on the pavements, the kaleidoscope of colourful clothing, saris and
textiles.
In my sketch
book I worked with pastels on different coloured papers to record not only what
I could see but how this new environment made me feel.
My drawing
started to change, I altered my colour combinations, and the rhythm of my mark
making became more intense and complicated.Working instinctively I found my landscapes were becoming more exotic, taking on an eastern appearance.
I will share more of my experiences and drawings of India in my next blog post.
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