Four Weavers

She is currently fascinated with a process called woven shibori, which you are familiar with whether you know it or not. Ever heard of tie-dye? That’s one example of shibori, an ancient Japanese dying process that uses tying or gathering of the material to resist the dye in certain spots. In woven shibori, the gathered threads are woven in on the loom. The result is not only unique coloration; the gathering remains to give the fabric a lovely pillowy texture. In this particular line of work, Hartshorn says, “I’ve challenged myself by using only natural dyes.”

Linda has been teaching weaving at the Ink People for the last four years. If you’re intrigued with all of this talk of textiles, color and fabric-making, give the Ink People a call at 442-8413 to find out about classes.

Kay Heitkamp’s work is a bit of a departure from the other three weavers. She is most interested in wall hangings. Her pieces are richly colored and textured. She also does spinning and dying and makes a lot of the yarn she uses.

What struck me about the hangings was that their shape was reminiscent of shawls. In my mind, they are an abstract representation of the warmth and comfort that weaving implies. But that was just my own take. Heitkamp was surprised by my interpretation; for her, the work is “an expression of [her] intense love of nature.”

The weaving show will be up in the Ink People’s main gallery until May 25. During the same month there is an exhibit of fused glass art in the Brenda Gallery. The Ink People is located at 411 12th Street in Eureka. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

In other news, the Westhaven Center for the Arts is seeking someone to fill its artist-in-residence position, “an energetic and motivated painter to anchor our gallery and be a member of our exhibit team.” If you’re interested, contact the Center at: WCA Artist-in-Residence program, P.O. Box 2094, Trinidad, 95570, or call 677-9493. The application deadline is June 1.

The WCA currently is showing the work of Derek Bond: exquisitely simple renderings of beach scenes and local wildlife done in egg tempera, an old master technique that not many artists have the patience for anymore. Although they are painstakingly realistic, he says, “I do not attempt to represent nature. Rather, I reflect on my own life experiences through nature and transform the result into art.”

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