Be amazed by the intricacy of felt making at a local exhibition at the Old Fire Station, Kiama over the June long weekend.
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More than 20 local artists will showcase their skills at the Illawarra Feltmakers Exhibition on June 8-13 by creating an art form that symbolises this year’s theme, ‘Reflections.’
Secretary Melinda Binkins said the exhibition will be unique with a number of original artworks.
“All the members try and come up with something that is a reflection to them, which can be interpreted in a number of ways,” she said.
“Everyone finds the challenge important, but what it means is you are going to get a diverse range of items from clothing to sculptures.”
Members will travel from as far as Newcastle to participate in the 5th annual exhibition to demonstrate the artistry of felt making.
Ms Binkins said a number of demonstrations will occur throughout the display.
“We will be showing people what you can do with wool as a lot of people don’t understand that felt is made from it,” she said.
“Many people haven’t seen an exhibition in felt making so this will show them the benefits of the felt intricacy, which was the first fabric created by man.”
Despite the rainfall over the past week, Illawarra Feltmakers treasurer Eleanor Bash is optimistic it won’t cloud the exhibition.
“Hopefully the rain will hold off but it doesn’t, that’s ok because we have the warmth at the exhibition.” she said.
The exhibition is set to be filled with an array of colours in the shape of handbags, hats, dresses, jackets and gloves. As it is a malleable material, Ms Bash said it can be moulded into anything.
“We take it from the raw fleece and by a combition of friction, water and soap turn it into a 3D object,” she said. “On the whole it is made using one piece, which can shaped and formed to create a number of things. Some have even done lamp shades.
“This generally surprises people who tend to think ‘felting - how boring’ but it’s as far from that as you could imagine.”