ELORA – A new curated exhibition entitled Clay & Cloth by artists (and sisters) Annette and Gitte Hansen opens in the gallery at the Elora Centre for the Arts on Oct. 31, with a reception planned for Nov. 3 at 2 pm.
In this immersive installation of clay and textiles, the artists invite visitors to enter the mysterious world of trees – both land and underwater forests – to experience the strength, depth, and movement of plants that demonstrate surprising similarities within their contrasting environments.
Annette incorporates natural materials such as wood and wire into her ceramic work in porcelain and stoneware to create unique clay vessels and compositions.
Her surfaces are richly textured, emulating tree bark with patterned leaf shapes and reflecting the study of colour and patterns found in forest trees.
Themes of rebirth and resilience are at play, as are patterns and texture, both chaotic and structured.
Annette honours the vital role of trees as the “lungs of the world’ while the impact of environmental damage looms around us.
Recreating the beauty of trees that grow in clay by using that same material in her art, she blends disparate materials in response to the profound structural transformations that changing seasons have on leaves and trees, and us as well.
Inspired by underwater forests and in-depth research on seaweed, Gitte’s textile pieces capture the undulating movement of marine life in the ebb and flow of water. She combines the natural and digital world to reframe this powerful, yet vulnerable, environment.
Digital photographs are enhanced with a layer of screen-printed seaweed images, and free-flowing silk organza wall hangings are printed and coloured using plant dyes and indigo, then overlaid with seaweed patterns.
By including small dyed and stitched pieces, Gitte invites a more intimate experience, asking the viewer to reflect on the beauty of the lesser-known world – one which we do not usually see in nature, and the importance of what it brings to our lives.
Gitte’s work is a recording of a landscape that is constantly shifting, and forever inspiring strong connections to a particular place and time.
An opening reception for Clay & Cloth will take place on Nov. 3 from 2 to 4pm.
The artists will be in attendance, and everyone is welcome. Admission is free.
Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm and Sunday 12 to 4pm. The exhibition runs until Jan. 19.
For more information about the exhibition and the artists visit eloracentreforthearts.ca/exhibitions/clay-cloth-forest-by-siblings-annette-gitte-hansen.
