Ariella Green: A Covid Diary

Ariella Green was born and educated in Israel. In the mid-seventies she came to the UK to further her art training; initially with a Foundation course at St. Martins School of Art and then a BA at Goldsmith’s College. This was followed by an MA and PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University. She works as a textile artist and has been exhibited widely in the UK, USA and Japan; both independently and with the British Crafts Council, the 62 Group and New Fibre Arts.

"My technique is essentially fabric collage, using material I have prepared myself and finished with applique, hand stitching and paint. The fabrics I use are silk, polyester or cotton, and they are prepared using silk screen-printing of photographic images, transfer paints, crayons and fabric paints. I also use direct application of paint and resist techniques and all the pigments are colourfast and heat fixed.

This stock of prepared fabrics then provide a palette of colours and forms for later use in my collages in which they are pieced and machine stitched onto a Vilene backing. The work is further developed and finished with hand stitching, found materials and fabric paint. The finished work is usually mounted on acid free card, framed and glazed.

This method of collage is central to the meaning of the work. It helps me find my way into my subject matter - as if taking me on a journey. In piecing together the different shapes and colours, the path of this journey becomes clearer and the subject matter is revealed. The landscape of my birthplace is central to my composition but my imagination can also be stimulated by pattern and texture in the textile itself.

This process of collage generates a kind of disruption of harmony, which I work to mend through the stitching  - a drive for peace between conflicting forces being reflected in a drive towards harmony in the composition. During lockdown I have made 25 pieces of textile collage responding to the current crisis. I also made a video of my journey of creating the work which can be viewed here."

You can see more of Ariella's work on her website.

CuratorSpace are currently featuring articles by artists, curators and organisations who want to share their experiences of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, whether that is artists using their practice as a way of exploring new boundaries of isolation, or as a way to connect more broadly with their communities. We are also interested in hearing from curators and organisations who are offering support to artists and audiences during this time.

Contact us at louise@curatorspace.com to share your story.
 

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