Stitcher, embroiderer, textile artist from New Plymouth.
One of the three artists contributing to Three By Two – Ways With A Needle. Open to the public from March 17th to April 24th 2023.
Wendy Johnstone, New Plymouth textile artist is a member of Creative Fibre and the New Plymouth Embroiderers Guild( founder member)
Stitching and creating for many years now, she has attended many classes with both local, national and international tutors.
A former member of the ANZEG executive she has held the positions of regional rep, education and module coordinator. Study with the Embroiderers Guild of America she qualified as a Master Needlework Judge.
Wendy enjoys experimenting and creating. Turning the pages of the workbooks that Wendy created while doing the challenges that form the basis for this exhibition there is the impression of a well travelled life that loves colour and all its different shades and intensities. Textures in Wendy’s work are created primarily with the sewing machine combined with her embellisher. The embellisher is a thread – less multi needle dry felter. This allows the creation of light play through surface constructions.
When the idea of this exhibition was first floated two years ahead of it becoming a reality, it was decided to base the exhibition around the annual challenges set by a group of The New Plymouth Embroiderers Guild. Wendy comments that this challenge series with words, letters and signs has been both enjoyable and frustrating at times, but a lot of fun.
It is fascinating to see how ideas develop from the mind mapping around the initial prompt. Wendy’s books are a model of how to trigger new creative explorations from a defined set of criteria. It is a privilege to see into a practitioners brainstorming process at this level of detail Thank you for sharing this with us Wendy – We are privileged.
Here is a collection of some of the works that were generated from this process of these challenges. The items are also listed in the web shop so that more detailed images can be viewed using the magnifier tool. Several of the pieces made for the challenges are held within the workbooks so do come and check them out.
