Bound by Nature

Bound by Nature is a group exhibition inspired by nature, landscape and books, curated by artist Deborah Danelley. It is currently on display at the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery in Winnipeg, and well worth the visit.

From Deborah's exhibition statement: "Because of our diminishing use of the book as a tactile, hand held instrument of communication, as well as our increasing detachment from our natural environment, I felt a strong desire to create “something” where both of these issues would be a focus of consideration and an opportunity to reconnect. I quickly found that I was not alone in this interest. The exhibition will display diverse styles, a multiplicity of techniques and a variety of materials which should provide something of interest for all viewers."

It includes works by several Manitoba artists and a few out of province artists as well.

Here are some of my favourite pieces from the exhibition:

Agatha Doerksen, Just hold me close, wool, paper, mixed media

Ann Stinner, Lambdance, Coptic binding with pop-ups, watercolour, acrylic inks and gesso on St. Armand paper; hand-painted Japanese foredge paper; felted hand-knitted covers; metal and linen embellishments.

Deborah Danelley, Meditations on Landscape I, collage - altered book parts.

Erwin Huebner, The Oocyte Cantata in 12 Movements, Mixed media (Quail eggs, Japanese and rice papers, black walnut wood).

 

Lorraine Douglas, Sea, Tunnel book

Nicole Coulson, Emerald-forest, Painted paper, thread, beads, pearls, fabric, found materials on handmade paper.

These pieces are only a very small sampling of the exhibition. There is a wide variety of techniques and materials in the pieces on display, and I have no doubt that anyone who goes will be glad they did!

In conjunction with the exhibition there will be one more free artist-guided tour at the gallery on Saturday June 11th from 1-2pm. The exhibit will continue until June 18.