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Cultiver….A quiet word with: Mieke den Otter from FELT pieces
What do you make?: handmade felt to wear, felt art pieces
Your favourite materials?: Australian merino wool to long haired fibres, silk, upcycled fabrics, eucalyptus dyes
What inspires you to create or where do your ideas come from?:I am inspired by the human form & landscape. This comes from my love of drawing and painting. Connections with textiles have grown through learning traditional craft skills with the Ipswich Spinners & Weavers and practicing these as a contemporary art form.
How are eco-friendly practices incorporated in your work?: I strive to use locally grown, use clean and safe practices for dyeing and combine upcycling in my pieces.
What have you studied?: I loved Art School 69-71, Printmaking QCA, Weaving, Abstract & Mixed media painting, Textile workshops-spinning, dyeing, feltmaking, Photography, Adobe creative programmes.
Are you a full-time or part-time maker?: as much as I can
What’s your day job?: Visual artist
If you’re self taught, how does this affect your practice?: I sample lots.
Why do you create?:… unique one off wearable pieces like booties, bags, hats and wraps because I love the creative possibilities and physicality of feltmaking.
What does DIY and the handmade movement mean to you?: I grew up in a artistic family and this is how I can communicate with others through making and sharing.
Local/Australian makers you are excited about:
TEXTLE magazine http://www.tafta.org.au/
Artist & writer www.indiaflint.com/
Textile/art http://www.atasda.org.au/qld.htm
Gathering of felters http://feltconvergencebunburywa.blogspot.com/
Cultiver… Hope this will give some focus to our amazing textiles…
Mieke…love being a part of Cultiver’s exciting space Read more…
