Wilma Simmons is exhibiting her third solo exhibition Enveloping at Timeless Textiles now until June 19.
Simmons trained in clay but says she prefers to work with textile materials because "fibres and fabric is more intimate, you are touching it all the time, manipulating it. It's the forgiveness of fabric that really appeals to me, you can stitch, re-stitch, mend, add and then you can de-construct, cut-up and put back together... I find it very relaxing, calming and reassuring." and as you walk into the gallery those feelings of calmness and enjoyment are overwhelming present.
Enveloping consists of scrolls, collages, books and dolls made during 2019 to 2021 that have been inspired by the T.F Hodge quote "what surrounds us is what is within us."
This quote resonated with Simmons because it has been the comfort of her home garden and the slowness that Covid-19 has provided her to think about her art practice.
She says "I don't think any of my techniques or style has changed... it's more the cohesiveness and it's more grounded." Each artwork is exquisitely and beautifully rendered, there is no doubt Simmons is a highly talented and intuitive textile artist.
Simmons will be teaching doll making on Tuesday, June 1, between 9.30am and 4.30pm, bookings essential timelesstextiles.com.au. 90 Hunter Street, Newcastle East; Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 3pm.
Saturday, May 22 between 10am and 4pm at Onwards Studio watch live mural painting by some of the resident artists and view their group exhibition. 6 Torpey Place, Hamilton.
Newcastle Art Space and studio artist, Dane Tobias will host an Australia's Biggest Morning Tea event in honour of his father on Wednesday, May 26, from 10.30am to 12noon. 91 Chinchen Street, Islington.
Join Anne-Maree Hunter at Newcastle Printmakers Workshop on Thursdays between 10am and 1pm from May 27 to June 24 for Introduction and Refresher to Stone Lithography. newcastleprintmakersworkshop.org; 27 Popran Road, Adamstown.
Hudson Street Hum is seeking expressions of interest from artists for an En Plein Air group guided by Jane Lander on Mondays. hudsonstreethum.com.au
