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Wednesday 14 December 2011

Painting With Threads

One Of My Sketch Books At The Herbert Art Gallery



A few weeks ago Mary Miers the arts editor of Country Life Magazine came to visit me at home.
She was intrigued by my art work, collections of threads and the methods I use to create my landscapes.
Here is the article she wrote.

PAINTING WITH THREADS

Michala Gyetvai’s passion for threads infuses her swirling stitched and felted artworks, which can be seen at the Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry until 24 January. The vibrant pieces express her deep-rooted love of nature, the seeds of which were sown during her childhood in rural Northamptonshire, when she roamed woods and fields collecting wool and other organic fibres. These she transformed with natural dyes and wove into ‘little worlds’ on a homemade loom. Since then she has squirreled away jars and jars of fibres - twisted twines and antique silks, lustred and matt threads shimmery and sheening, crocheted cottons and metallic strands – so that her workroom resembles a Parisian brocante. With no formal training, Mrs Gyetvai developed her craft-based fine art while attending evening classes; she derives particular inspiration from the English Romantics. Working from studies in pastels, she ‘paints with the fibres’ on old dyed blankets, moving around the piece like a dancer as she lays them out and punches them in. Then she draws in the lines and builds up the texture of the composition with her threads, stitching them in by hand and machine. The whole process has an affinity with music and ballet, the results being highly rhythmic and expressive of the physical energy that goes into their making. Trees are a favourite motif, conveying the artist’s own emotions as well as the landscape around her home town of Kenilworth.

By Mary Miers

I feel very privileged to tell you that she has recommended my exhibition at The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry as one of the best to see in December, in this weeks Country Life Magazine including a small piece about me.

11 comments:

Twiglet said...

What a brilliant write up. Well done you. Hope you can relax and enjoy your success over the Christmas season. best wishes. x Jo

Gina said...

What a fabulous article. Well done!

Unknown said...

Wow what an awesome Article and so well deserved, your work is just Fabulous :)
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year
Karen xo

Julie said...

Congratulatiosn Michala and well deserved recognition for your beautiful work.

cardinal arts said...

how exciting! am so happy for you - and hope your show is doing well!

Iceni UK said...

Now I really do have to come and see your exhibition.
Congratulations Michala.
Your work was the first I looked at when I joined flickr and I have never stopped being amazed by the beautiful work you create.
Wishing you even more success in the future.
hugs.

Karen said...

This is so exciting!!! Well done you!!

artymess said...

well done .......much deserved...x

Unknown said...

Congrats on the write up, I wish I could go and see it. If I win Lotto on New Years Eve I'll dash across from Australia and have a look. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Cathy Cullis said...

many congratulations to you - I hope you continue to enjoy much success in 2012, it's great to see textle art recognised and highlighted, especially here in the UK (where stitchers can some times feel more than sidelined) - hope you and your family enjoy a very happy holiday season, best wishes Cathy x

MulticoloredPieces said...

A well-deserved article and many congratulations. Love how you put some of your pieces on canvases (as far as I can tell from the photos). Wish I could see this in person! Have a very happy holiday!
best,
nadia