South West TAFE students push traditional crafts in a new direction

Published on 13 June 2019

South West TAFE students are celebrating textile skills in their art installation at this year’s CrossXpollinatioN exhibition at COPACC.

The Colac-based Diploma and Certificate III in Visual Arts students are currently studying textiles and have created a 12-metre long work in response to the exhibition’s theme – ‘Connections’.

SWTAFE arts teacher Sue Ferrari said that in creating the work, the students explored how textiles and textile skills throughout history had brought people together, fostering social bonds and community connections.

She said the installation was a celebration of the skills and techniques that continued to connect generations together today, informing new creative ways of working, using a variety of textile materials and techniques.

Ms Ferrari said the students wanted the community to get involved and connect with the work and share their images on social media.

“Exhibition visitors can add elements to a weaving at the installation’s entrance. They can also put themselves in the Instapicture and upload their image taken in one of the textile frames to Instagram to share the work even further,” she said.

The South West TAFE students’ art installation will be on show at the CrossXpollinatioN Exhibition at the Colac Otway Performing Arts and Cultural Centre from June 28 until July 17 from 10am to 4pm.

CrossXpollinatioN is proudly sponsored by Tarndie, Star Printing and the Baronga Motor Inn.