Saturday, August 22, 2020

Studio La Primitive Fashion Fantastic
Wearable Art

Guest Artist: Robyn Werkhoven


Preamble
For your convenience I have listed below all of the Guest Artists posts on this blogspot:
My Voice using Disperse Dyes on Cloth (Jennifer Libby Fay)
An Artistic Dialogue With My Immediate Environment (Lesley Turner)
The Art of Fascinators (Flora Fascinata)
Reality, Influence and Invention (Shirley McKernan)
The Mythical Beasts (Eric and Robyn Werkhoven)
Studio La Primitive Fashion Fantastic (Eric and Robyn Werkhoven)
The Art of Mary Edna Fraser: Poetic Landscapes


Introduction
Collaborative artists Eric & Robyn Werkhoven, exhibit under the title of Studio La Primitive. Both are award winning artists and have been finalists in major Australian art prizes. Their work has been selected for exhibitions nationally and internationally.

In 2013 they established the successful Art and Literary online magazine – Studio La Primitive Arts Zine. As multi - disciplinarian artists in the visual arts this article features their journey into the world of fashion and textiles. The textiles like their paintings are full of vivid color, stylized design, and with themes expressing the human dilemma with a candid humour.

At present their latest work is a hand painted mantle to be exhibited in 'Stole: the Show', to be held at a Newcastle textile gallery, New South Wales, from 16th September to 1st November 2020.

Robyn is also exhibiting new work featuring her drawings and paintings titled, "Recent Work", with fellow artist, Sue Stewart, at Back to Back Gallery in Cooks Hill, Newcastle, from the 11th to 27th September 2020.


Mad Moment – Painting and Drawing Series at ‘Recent Work’ Exhibition at Back to Back Gallery.

Artist and Year: Robyn Werkhoven, 2020.
Title: Interior with Nude.
Media: Acrylic on canvas.
Artist Statement: The paintings are based on drawings from my visual diary, a return to vivid colour and stylized design.


‘Stole: the Show’ at Timeless Textiles Gallery
Curator’s Statement
A stunning and diverse collection of works by twenty three contemporary artists using the format of a Stole, a mantle worn around the neck that is found in many spiritual traditions. Artists and craftspeople will explore through a variety visual means the hopes and aspirations we carry on our shoulders as vulnerable and compassionate human beings.

Curator Rod Pattenden says: ‘People carry things upon their shoulders, their past, current responsibilities, as well as future hopes and aspirations. As frail humans we carry our lives on our shoulders, as well as the hopes and concerns we carry for others and our common future as the human community. These artist have taken up the challenge of visualising these burdens.’

This is an exciting opportunity to show off a range of work by practitioners working in diverse media, willing to explore an intimate subject matter that also investigates the nature of community, spirituality, politics, the environment and our common good.

Artists include Alexandra Banks, John Barnes, Margot Broug, Jan Clark, Catherine Croll, James Drinkwater, Penny Dunstan, Andrew Finnie, Peter Gardiner, Petra Hilsen, Sandra James, Sachiko Kotaka, Anne Kempton, Glenn Loughrey, Chris Mansell, Rod Pattenden, Giselle Penn, Wilma Simmons, Kris Smith, Braddon Snape, Richard Tipping, Robyn and Eric Werkhoven, and Graham Wilson. Curated by Anne Kempton and Rod Pattenden.

Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven - Studio La Primitive, 2020.
Title: FUN and FOLLY (full view of the mantle).
Technique and Media: Hand painted with fabric paints on cotton blend fabric.
Size: 50 cm w x 86 cm h (front); 50 cm w x 60 cm h (back).
Artist Statement:
The grand master’s mantle.
A one legged bird heralds the coming of the hunters.
Rounding up the beasts.
The ritual of people throwing the dice.
All in the game and name of wooing and scoring.
To come up with a feast and a story.
How clear it all seems in a blue, blue sky.

E&R Werkhoven © 2020.

Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven - Studio La Primitive, 2020.
Title: FUN and FOLLY (detail view of the front of the mantle).
Technique and Media: Hand painted with fabric paints on cotton blend fabric.
Size: 50 cm w x 86 cm h (front).

Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven - Studio La Primitive, 2020.
Title: FUN and FOLLY (detail view of the back of the mantle).
Technique and Media: Hand painted with fabric paints on cotton blend fabric.
Size: 50 cm w x 60 cm h (back).

Artist and Year: Alexandra Banks, 2020.
Title: Lost Time.
Technique and Media: Drafting paper, wool, soldering wire.
Size: 110 x 60 x 15 cm.

Artist and Year: Andrew Finnie, 2020.
Title: The Hamsa Stole.
Technique and Media: Printed digital painting on polyester.
Size: 15 cm x 254 cm (unfolded).
Edition: 15.

Artist and Year: Kris Smith, 2020.
Title: “Mantle of Light”.
Technique and Media: Digital design from elements of an original painting done on timber. Digital print on polyester stole.
Stole Size: 17 cm w x 238 cm h.
Installation dimensions (hanging stole): 50 cm w x 122 cm h.


The Journey
The fashion journey began with Robyn, who from a young age loved making clothes for her dolls and collecting fashion magazines, later avidly following the Parisian Haute Couture, admiring the works of Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, and Alexander McQueen all known for their unconventional fashion designs.

Whilst studying Graphic Design in Sydney in the early 70’s Robyn would regularly visit iconic Australian fashion designer Jenny Kee’s shop Flamingo Park, in the Strand Arcade, Sydney. Admiration for Kees’ wonderful colourful and exotic fashion inspired Robyn to establish her own business and retail shop – Armin Designs, designing and selling unique hand printed and painted clothing from her Wollongong shop and various Sydney outlets, including High Lama in Bondi Junction and Sean and Sonia’s in North Sydney.

After a life style change, marriage and moving to Mt Georgica, Robyn produced a range of hand painted clothing for Who Wears the Pants, clothing store at Byron Bay in New South Wales.


Artists and Year: Dress design by Robyn Werkhoven. Images by Eric and Robyn Werkhoven, 2013.
Title: Dance Dress.
Technique and Media: Hand painted images and silk screened bodice and hem designs employing fabric paint on 100% cotton.


Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven, 2005.
Title: Studio La Primitive Kimono (front view).
Technique and Media: Hand painted images employing fabric paint on 100% cotton.
Exhibited in the Peter Berry Collection at Newcastle University in 2017.

Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven, 2005.
Title: Studio La Primitive Kimono (back view).
Technique and Media: Hand painted images employing fabric paint on 100% cotton.
Exhibited in the Peter Berry Collection at Newcastle University in 2017.

Artist and Year: Robyn Werkhoven, 2006.
Title: Dancers.
Technique and Media: Photo stencil images, silkscreened employing fabric paint on rayon.

Artist and Year: Robyn Werkhoven, 1975.
Title: Fantasy Bird.
Technique and Media: Photo stencil design, silkscreened employing fabric paint on cotton voile.

Later Robyn ventured into knitting her designs and other fashion accessories, hats and a range of unique necklaces. Robyn’s passion for jewellery and art, especially portraiture, led to a collection of unique hand painted pendants and brooches. The necklaces are strung with an exotic mix of beautiful glass and metal beads. The portrait series vary in themes including: Egyptian, Medieval, Pre-Raphaelite, 1920’s, Modern Japanese Graphics, and collaborative, contemporary paintings by Eric & Robyn. The necklaces are in private collections in Europe and the USA.

Artist and Year: Robyn Werkhoven, 1988.
Title: La Primitive Cardigan.
Technique and Media: Hand knitted cardigan employing wool yarn.

Artist and Year: Robyn Werkhoven, 1987.
Title: La Primitive Tabard (front view).
Technique and Media: Hand knitted tabard employing wool yarn.

Artist and Year: Robyn Werkhoven, 1987.
Title: La Primitive Tabard (back view).
Technique and Media: Hand knitted tabard employing wool yarn.

Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven, 2012.
Title: Studio La Primitive Sun Hat.
Technique and Media: Hand painted images employing acrylic paint on straw hat.

A portrait series of unique hand painted pendants by Robyn Werkhoven.

A themed series of unique hand painted necklaces by Robyn Werkhoven.

Portraiture, painting and drawing have become Robyn’s main focus over the years, except to collaborate with Eric Werkhoven on individual pieces for textile and wearable art exhibitions. In 2010 their designs were selected for a major show in Switzerland. The exhibition featured a collaboration between 15 Swiss designers and 15 international artists and was titled, Art and Fashion Event T-SHIRT CULT, presented by Lily in a Box.

Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven, 2010.
Title: Adventure into the Unknown.
Technique and Media: Hand painted images employing fabric paint on cotton.
Selected for and exhibited at Art and Fashion Event T-SHIRT CULT, presented by Lily in a Box, Switzerland.
Link to video of the event on YouTube: see - YouTube Movie

Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven, 2010.
Title: Adventure into the Unknown.
Technique and Media: Hand painted images employing fabric paint on cotton.
Selected for and exhibited at Art and Fashion Event T-SHIRT CULT, presented by Lily in a Box, Switzerland.

Artists and Year: Eric and Robyn Werkhoven, 2010.
Title: Dogs & Dancers.
Technique and Media: Hand cut stencil images or silkscreened employing fabric paint on stretch cotton. Selected for and exhibited at Art and Fashion Event T-SHIRT CULT, presented by Lily in a Box, Switzerland.

Robyn Werkhoven © 2020.

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