#survivalistsampler workshop

Date 17/04/2021
Time 10am -2pm. 4 hours
Book here

This workshop introduces #survivalistsampler, a community project started by Sera Waters which invites participants to stitch their own sampler recording experiences, stories, information and more reflecting upon this time in history we are living through together. This workshop will be used to brainstorm concepts and approaches in how to create your own survivalist story through stitch, with the emphasis being upon sharing experiences and discussing the translation of these into stitched expressions. Some basic stitch techniques, including lettering, couching and a brief introduction to blackwork will be covered as we work upon our samplers.

Participants are asked to bring along a textile base for their sampler/stitched work. Sera encourages the use of textiles with a history; found, second-hand and used materials including pieces of linen or cotton around the size of tea towels (or even napkins, runners, tea towels themselves are great substrates). As we will be using a number of counted-thread techniques it is also encouraged to bring an evenweave fabric (some will be available if needed). While threads, scissors, washable fabric markers and more will be available to share, please bring along your own supplies if you have them already.

Bio

Dr. Sera Waters is an Adelaide based artist, arts writer and academic. Since being awarded a Ruth Tuck Scholarship in 2006 to study hand embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework (UK), Waters’ art practice has been characterised by a darkly stitched meticulousness. Her embroideries and hand-crafted sculptures dwell within the gaps of Australian histories to examine settler-colonial home-making patterns and practices, especially her own genealogical ghostscapes. More recently Waters has been exploring how textile traditions can help us navigate a future affected by climate change.

Major exhibitions include Dark Portals, at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia (2013), Sappers and Shrapnel at Art Gallery of South Australia (2016), and Going Round in Squares at Ararat Gallery TAMA (2019). In 2017 she was the recipient of the inaugural ACE Open South Australian artist commission, where she staged her solo exhibition Domestic Arts. This exhibition is currently touring South Australian regional galleries with Country Arts SA presented in partnership with ACE Open.

Her works are held by the Cruthers collection of Women’s art, Ararat Regional Gallery, the Art Gallery of South Australia and private collections nationwide. Waters is a studio member of The Incinerator, Thebarton, lecturer at Adelaide Central School of Art, and is represented by Hugo Michell Gallery.

Feature Image credit:
Sera Waters, Survivalist Sampler, 2019-2020
cotton, glow-in-the-dark thread, found materials on repurposed linen
42cm (W) x 45cm (H)
Photograph Grant Hancock

Sera Waters in her studio.
Photograph Deidre But-Husaim

We’re passionate about creating inclusive activities in our public programming that promote and value diversity in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspectives. We want to create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity are seen as real value for our community. If you have an idea for a workshop please contact uhalpin@pirie.sa.gov.au