Art heros - Pamela Fitzsimons

One of my favourite Australian quilters is Pamela Fitzsimons. I love the simplicity and richness of her work. Her themes are landscape in it details, the effects of human settlement, and "time". Her usual colours are subtle, suitable browns - and she does a lot of hand stitching.

This info comes from her exhibition in 2006 at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, New South Wales. "Ignition suite" (above) was in that show. (Other images are here.)

"This solo exhibition Time and Place: Pamela Fitzsimons is a series of works inspired by the landscape of Bow Wow Creek Gorge, a heritage listed geological site and scenic landscape near Mount Vincent in the Lower Hunter. It is noted for its Permian fossils and remnant rainforest vegetation.

"Living in that landscape has created a new direction in her work which has developed alongside the struggle to have the area permanently conserved through a partnership with the local council and National Parks and Wildlife Service.

"The study of the flora, fauna and geology reflecting the imprint of time on the landscape and patterns and cycles in nature, have become themes explored in the works. The textiles comprise plant dyed and hand stitched elements.

"'The finished work acts as evidence of the processes which produced it. The living in and caring for a particular place: the gathering of plant material, the setting up of the dye pot, then the cutting and piecing of the silk or wool to make the quilt. The hours spent stitching. Family and friends come and go. The seasons change. The landscape remains and is celebrated here in these works.' (Sarah Tucker, extract from catalogue essay)"