Detail: woven copper and
stainless
steel strips,heat patina
7" x 7" Detail: woven copper strips and
wire,
heat patina
7" x 7" Detail: Bike gear mounted on
stainless mesh ,painted, wire
7" x 7"
I enjoy using these 'masculine' materials and hardware pieces - washers, electical whatevers, bike parts and gears - and turning them into quilts and basket vessels with more of a domestic/feminine dynamic.
I don't know where this fascination comes from nor do I have any idea what the proper use of most of these things might be. I am intrigued by the ways that the shapes, patinas, and colours of prosaic materials and objects can be recombined into a different pattern in a new context.
Hence the development of the Scrapyard Quilt.
BIOGRAPHY
Fran Solar is a contemporary Canadian artist who combines textile techniques with unconventional materials to create unique woven sculpture, both free-standing and wall-mounted. Fran currently lives and works in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada.
Fran studied at the University of Manitoba, graduating in 1960 with a degree in Interior Design. Her interest in design and textiles then found expression through weaving, which Fran pursued for many years. During this time she specialized in functional clothing and textiles, using traditional fibres and techniques.
In the mid-1990's Fran began to experiment with basketry as another textile art form, initially using traditional materials such as wood and reed. After attending workshops at Basket Focus conferences in Toronto, Ottawa, and the Okanagan she developed an interest in using metals in combination with textile techniques such as loom weaving, basketry, and quilting. Her materials today include copper, brass, and stainless steel sheet and wire, and interesting bits and pieces of hardware and industrial surplus.These materials are further altered through the use of heat and chemical patinas.
She now finds she gets more satisfaction improvising arrangements of shapes, textures, materials, and colors than she did as a traditional fiber artist. However, she still uses the same textile techniques developed from earlier years to create these new sculptural forms.
ARTIST CV
Exhibitions
2007
2006
Contemporary Craft in BC, Excellence within Diversity
VISUALS, Squamish Valley Artists Group Show
2004-07
Wild at Art, A winter Festival of the Arts, Squamish BC
2002-05
Squamish Valley ArtWALK, Studio and Gallery Tour
1999
In and Out of the Garden, Vancouver Fabric Arts Guild Show, Craft House Gallery, Granville Is, Vancouver BC
A Basket Case, Group Basketry Show, Craft House,Granville Island, Vancouver BC
Harmony Arts Festival, Vancouver Fabric Arts Guild Group Show.
1998
Connection Threads, Vancouver Fabric Arts Guild Show, Community Arts Council Gallery, Vancouver BC
1997
Women’s Work - Uncommon Threads, Ferry Bldg Gallery, West Vancouver BC
1996
High Fiber Diet - New Food for Thought, Queen’s Park Art Council Gallery New Westminster, BC
Group Show, Grove Gallery Whistler, BC
Design For Living Show, Seymour Art Gallery
1993
Images and Objects, Trail BC
Commissions
1999
The Donor Wall Art Piece, Squamish Public Library (competition award).
Professional Involvement
1995/06
Curator, Foyer Gallery, Squamish Public Library
2004
Member organizing committee, ArtWALK Studio and Gallery Tour, Squamish BC
Exhibition Coordinator, Wild at Art Festival, Squamish BC
1998
Jury member, Street banner competition, Squamish BC
1995
Installation Coordinator, Visual Edge Art Show, Squamish BC
Associations
Craft Association of BC
FibreEssence, An Artists' Association, Vancouver BC
VISUALS Squamish Valley Artists Society
Education
1960
University of Manitoba - Bachelor of Interior Design (BID)
