Textiles

Author: Joyce Hyam

Why Textiles?

“This art medium adds a new dimension to an artistic expression. It involves a number of skills – ie. Dyeing techniques, mixing the paste, screen printing and sewing techniques as well as artistic knowledge.”

“It is an interesting extension of the water colour technique to paint on a screen with fabric dyes instead of water colours on paper, even though more time-consuming. The process consists of painting on a screen with fibre-reactive dyes... then using a squeegee and a screen printing paste with ‘Manutex,’ which transfers the dyes to the fabric.

Artist Statements:

By Joyce Hyam (written in the mid 1980’s when Joyce redirected her artistic talents to textile art)

“Central to my work is feeling, being conveyed through colour, line and form. Each work is a new experience for me, and, hopefully for the viewer. I am now working with a number of mediums, including painting on fabric, appliqué, and free stitchery using both silk and metallic threads. As I experiment with new methods to achieve effects, sometimes the results are pleasing and exciting, which leads to further experiments and growth in techniques. With a fine arts training on which to build my textile work, and artistic background in teaching and exhibiting drawings, paintings (oils, acrylics, watercolours) and print-making (etching, lithographs), I now find I can convey my knowledge through textile art.”

Excerpts from Textile Fibre Forum, no.24, 1989 p.31

I sometimes use two layers of fabric (ie. cotton voile over cotton), so that one layer can be cut away for a special effect. The print is then dried for twenty four hours, washed and ironed. The work is completed with machine stitchery. When complete, the work is professionally stretched and framed.

Excerpts from the Review section of Craftlink, Volume 7, no.2 March 1993, p.3.

Author: Jeff Shaw

“Landscapes and Illusions was an exhibition of the work of four South East Queensland textile artists, Joyce Hyam, Cynthia Morgan, Lois Skinner and Tina Sutton. It was mounted at the Arts Council Gallery from 10 to 27 November 1992.”

“...these artists used the theme (Landscapes and Illusions) as a starting point for their own interpretations and emotions in an often startling exploration of the expressive and the emotive elements of their textile medium...” “While the work showed great variations in both technique and expression, some of the stronger pieces exhibited a dramatic visual impact more often associated with the work of painters, while others appealed through subtle placement and employment of colour surface.”

“In general, the large works held most appeal and of those, Joyce Hyam’s ‘A Poem Lovely’ demanded the most immediate attention. Perhaps its appearance is in part atavistic, a call from a well remembered quilt of earlier years where colours, forms and textures always had an element of waking magic. Whatever the case, this piece presents as a sparkling mosaic with bands and variations of tone and colour endowed with pine trees and magical landscapes. Brilliant and enjoyable, the piece is described as ‘strip pieced, machine appliqué and quilting’ – but a pleasure in any medium. Still on an imaginative note, the Hyam work entitled ‘Everglades’ displays elements of stitchery which are a visual delight.”

(Note: the works referred to are now in private collections)

There is an advantage in working with people in different art/craft areas. Cynthia Morgan helped me with dyeing and machine stitchery, and I contributed my knowledge of watercolour techniques. Preparing for exhibitions of textile art, both in Brisbane and Rockhampton was a pleasant experience for us.”

In describing her ’The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland’ series of textile wall hangings, Joyce wrote:

“To me, artistic interpretation reaches from drawing, design, and colour, culminating in my present multimedia approach. Hence, artistic expression is achieved by making creative choices amongst techniques, mediums and skills. I aim to produce work which sings and glows by using a limitless range of fabrics and threads as well as paints. My present series, ‘The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland’ was inspired by Sir John Tenniel’s blackand-white drawings. It involves painting on canvas and embellishing the work with a range of textile techniques.”

Excerpt from Down Under Quilts, September, 1997

Art Quilts

Joyce Hyam describes her technique for marbling on silk:

“After working in a wide variety of media for twenty-five years, the challenge of a new art form presented itself when I experimented with a marbling technique on silk.

The process is to float fabric dyes on a carrageen moss gel. I make a tray using a sheet of thick plastic placed on a large table, with bricks making four sides. This provides a bath for the moss, should be about 5cm in depth. The Everfast dyes, which have a squirt of oxgall and 60% water are the medium which floats on the gel. The art is the manipulation of the dyes. When the pattern is made to my satisfaction, I need the help of a friend to lower the silk onto the surface of the gel. The silk is then pulled out of the bath, hung to dry, and ironed. It is washed to remove the gel.

To present the machine-quilted hangings, I sometimes use appliqué technique and stitchery.”

Textile Ten is the name of the original group of five textile artists formed in 1993 – Joyce Hyam; Pamela Hill; Judy-Ann Moule, and Pam Winson, who exhibited together many times during the ninetees and into the early 2000’s. The group met regularly to discuss their work, both technically and artistically, and membership of Textile Ten changed to include textile artist Tina Sutton who exhibited with Joyce, Pamela Hill, and Pam Winsen at the Rhythm and Blues exhibition held at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery from 1st to the 27th January 1997.

Ten refers to the ten fingers on the five hands of the women artists. Other exhibitions by the Textile Ten included: Diversity: Textile art by ‘Textile Ten’ was held at the Logan Art Gallery in July 1996; Textile Ten - five women, ten hands, many pieces from 23rd May to the 27th June 1998 at the Verlie Just Town Gallery, and Japan Room Brisbane. The group comprised Joan Apel; Joyce Hyam; Judy-Anne Moule; Rosemary Penfold; and Pam Winson. This latter exhibition is described in Textile Fibre Forum no.53, 1998, p.39

Later the women joined several more talented textile artists and the group Textile Art Group or TAG was formed to which Joyce belonged. Even though she ceased exhibiting with TAG around 2008, when she was in her mid eighties, Joyce continued her involvement as a textile art friend, and has followed the women’s works and exhibitions with great delight. She was awarded a Certificate of Life Membership of the Textile Art Group on the 10th November 2008 (pictured to the right).

‘Pursuit of Excellence in Textiles,’ The Canberra Times Sunday, July 17 1994, p.18

Critique of Textile Ten exhibition at the Narek Galleries, Cuppacumbalong, Nass Road Tharwa, ACT.

Meredith Hinchcliffe of The Canberra Times wrote:

“Textile Ten is a group of artists dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in contemporary textiles. Each artist (Joyce Hyam; Pamela Hill; Judy-Ann Moule, and Pam Winson) works as an individual exploring her own talents and inspirations with the joint aim of artistic expression. Most of the works in this exhibition involve quilt making and several related needlework techniques.”

“Successful quilts must be more than a combination of skills, no matter how well executed. They must have vigour and excitement and breathe life.”

“Joyce Hyam is exhibiting three small pieces conveying the colours and movement of ocean life: Deep Blue Sea 1, 2, 3. Pipe to the Spirit – After Dorrit Black is quite different. Appliquéd figures in bright yellow move in a circle over a ground of purple/mauve and pink/blue. The quilting links the figures and forms’ shadow-like patterns.”...” The colours are startling and there is barely constrained movement in the dancing figures.”

“Quilted textiles are far more than pictures which hang on walls. They are three-dimensional, absorbing and reflecting light. The exhibition is an excellent chance to see what is being produced by a small group of textile artists from Queensland.”

Down Under Quilts, Spring 1995, p.4

Around the Quilt World

Australians recognised internationally

Work selected for prestigious Fibrearts Design Book Five

“Three Australian quilt makers have had their work selected for the prestigious Fibrearts Design book, to be released in October 1995, to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of publishing Fibrearts Magazine. Each of the 585 pieces included in the book, chosen from 6,000 artists from 34 countries, was picked on the basis of artistic integrity and technical expertise. The artists are Pam Hill and Joyce Hyam from Brisbane, and Alison Schwabe from Shelley in W.A. Alison’s quilt (entitled) “Undercurrents” ...Pam Hill’s (entitled) “Evensong”...and Joyce Hyam has made a quilted art hanging entitled “Pipe to the Spirit – after Dorrit Black”...It uses handdyed cotton fabrics, is machine appliquéd and machine quilted.”

Art Quilt Magazine, Issue 7, 1996-7

This magazine features new works done by fibre-art artists and featured Joyce’s work, Australian Waters, in this issue. In describing her work, Joyce wrote:

“A recent holiday in the Whitsundays inspired this work. Australian Waters is made of hand-dyed cotton fabric. The batik sea creatures are appliquéd with metallic threads, as are the fishes and other sea forms suing free stitchery. This work comes to life under a spotlight.”

Brisbane Convention Centre Craft Fair, October 2000

Divine Displays (publicity produced for the Craft Fair)

“The Queensland Quilt Show, by the Queensland Quilters Inc. Is their annual quilt exhibition and will include both traditional and contemporary quilts in various sizes. In addition to member’s work, special features including:

9 Contemporary Quilts by Joyce Hyam from her “Alice Series.” Joyce is an artist who only recently in the last 10 years developed an interest in textile art. Her quilts have been selected for display in Australian Quilts in Public Places (Melbourne 1997), the World Quilt Competition (Pasadena California 1998 and WinstonSalem, North Carolina, USA 2000), and National Patchwork Association, UK 1997. With these impressive accolades, we consider her quilts a special inclusion this year.

“Here Be Magic” is my original design, inspired by the sparkling effect of sunlight on trees after rain.

It is painted on canvas, the tree foliage being created by using small pieces of fabric and threads, held together whilst sewing using soluble fabric and gold metallic threads.

The created shapes and patterned organza are appliquéd with invisible thread. The work is machine quilted.

“Here Be Magic” has been selected to be judged at the WORLD QUILT COMPETITION in Pasedena, California USA, and will hang on display during the event from April 16-19, 1998.

Joyce Hyam

Aura Australis 125cms x 110cms

Selected by Dijanne Cevaal, Quilt Artist and Curator, to travel with Australian Bounty, Quilts AustraliennesNatura 2000. The quilts went to the following venues in 2000 and 2001:

Gellilbrand Town Hall, Gellibrand

Chatteau de Chassy en Morvan, Chateau-Chinon, France

Galerie du Pontgirard, Galerie d’Art Contemporaine, Manceaux-au-Perche, France

European Quilt Championships, Waalre, The Netherlands

Autumn Fairs, Ardingly and Chilford, England

Australian Embassy, Paris, France

The Heights, Heritage House, Geelong, Australia

New England Regional Art Gallery, Armidale, NSW, Australia

Sydney Quilt Festival, Sydney, Australia

Te Tuhi (formerly the Fischer Gallery) Auckland, New Zealand

Green Island c1985

63cm x 84cm

Textile: (velvet appliqué; machine stitchery)

Colour Zones c2000

86cm x 74cm

Textile: (patchwork; appliqué; netting; machine stitchery; machine quilted)

Come Into Being

c2000

92cm x 80cm

Textile: (patchwork; appliqué; machine stitchery; machine quilted)

81cm x 100cm

Textile: (curved piecing; appliqué; weaving; bead decoration; machine quilted) c1992

70cm x 50cm

Textile: ( appliqué; machine stitchery; machine quilted)

Curiosity Masks c1992

55cm x 40cm

Textile: (machine appliqué; weaving; beading; machine quilted)

Razzamataz c1993

74cm x 63cm

Textile: (marbelling on fabric; appliqué; machine stitchery; machine quilted)

50cm x 36cm

Textile: (hand-dyed cotton; appliqué; machine stitchery)

Western Sky c1990

56cm x 42cm

Textile: (hand-dyed & painted cotton; machine stitchery)

Vibes

1999

55cm x 43cm

Textile: (machine stitched & layered slashed fabric; beading; machine quilted)

Seasons 1998

131cm x 131cm

Textile: (hand-dyed cotton; slashed blocks; brocade; machine appliquéd; machine quilted)

1995

50cm x 50cm

Textile: (screen printed; pieced; free standing motifs; machine stitched & quilted)

Way Out c2000

122cm x 92cm

Textile: (patchwork; machine stitchery; bias binding with free stitchery; machine quilted)

107cm x 69cm

Textile: (hand-painted cotton; organdie overlay; machine stitchery; appliqué; machine quilted)

Soft Reef Current c2002

43cm x 58cm

Textile: (hand dyed & painted cotton; machine stitchery)

Opalescence c2002

43cm x 58cm

Textile: (hand dyed & painted cotton; machine stitchery) c1996

124cm x 109cm

Textile: (painted canvas; appliqué; machine stitchery; machine quilted)

125cm x 110cm

Textile: (painted canvas; appliqué; machine stitchery over fabric pieces & threads; machine quilted)

Ocean Intrigue c1993

122cm x 86cm

Textile: (marbelling on silk; reverse appliqué; machine stitchery; machine quilted)

105cm x 101cm

Textile: (hand-dyed cotton; appliquéd batik; machine stitchery with metallic threads; machine quilted)

The Stylist 1991

37cm x 32cm

Textile: (air-brushing on silk; machine stitchery; machine quilted)

Fleeting Moment

1995

55cm x 54cm

Textile: (organdie overlays; reverse appliqué; gold metallic machine stitchery; machine quilted)

Trees-a-Dancing 1995

44cm x 40cm

Textile: (layered organdie over cotton-patterned fabric; glitzy fabric appliqué; machine stitchery)

Mystique 2001

108cm x 90cm

Textile: (painted fabric; machine stitchery over layered fabrics; appliqué; machine quilted)

Hidden Secrets c2004

100cm x 61cm

Textile: (hand dyed silk; appliqué; machine stitchery with wool & metallic thread)

Fabrication 1995

42cm x 40cm

Textile: (layered organdie& commercial fabric; cut-away technique; machine stitchery)

36.5cm x 30cm

Textile: (layered organdie & commercial fabric; cut-away technique; machine stitchery)

Night Glow c2005

30cm X 25cm

Textile: (appliqué & machine stitchery on dyed silk)

Pipe to the Spirit - After Dorrit Black c1994

122cm x 86cm

Textile: (hand -dyed cotton fabrics; machine appliqué; machine quilted)

Set of Miniatures c2002

39cm x 34cm

Textile: (machine stitchery)

Spirits of another Sort

c2001

103cm x 82cm

Textile: (painted fabric; machine stitchery over layered fabrics; appliqué; machine quilted)

30cm x 25cm

Textile: (machine stitchery; fabric ornaments; appliqué) c2006

30cm x 25cm

Textile: (machine stitchery of raised fungi motifs; machine appliqué & quilted)

Sensuality c2002

58cm x 43cm

Textile: (hand-dyed cotton; hand painted; machine stitchery)

Arachnida c2003

70cm x 51cm

Textile: (machine stitchery; appliqué; machine quilted)

Nature’s Wealth 2008

51cm x 35cm

Textile (machine stitchery; quilting; applique)(Joyce’s last artwork, age 85)