http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php Copyright 2010, Marilyn Rae-Menzies Marilyn Rae-Menzies en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry100204-205901


I was chatting to my eldest daughter Nicola while skeching these jars so they are almost a doodle.



And here are the last of the plums in the fruit bowl alongside some bananas.

In the studio I have been working on a small tapestry 'Forest Floor' The design for this wee work came from my trip to the West Coast in November. We walked through the native bush past Karamea on the way to see the Oparara Arch and I took heaps of photographs of the forest floor and the big trees etc etc. The design is a composite of a number of these photographs, scanned and altered to fit in with my concept.



The red represents the danger that we are in because of our lack of care for our environment and the black squares represent the void, the emptiness, the possible loss of humankind from the planet.



]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry100204-205901 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:59:01 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry100131-091913


The two mandarins were looking lonely in the large fruit bowl but were nice to draw. I am practising my skills with watercolour which I haven't used for a long time, and am finding that the more I do the better they get, so hope that continues. I still don't feel hugely confident with watercolour yet.



There are nearly always flowers on my table, either what my friends bring me when they visit or something out of my very small garden. In this sketch I was trying not to use an outlining in ink as this is what I usually do. I was quite pleased with this image of the lilies that Rose brought me when she stayed during Peg's exhibtion.



I did this quick drawing of bananas at my daughter Krista's place in Hamilton. I had to dash up there as my third daughter Kellie, was in hospital having heart surgery which was really successful, thank goodness. The drawing was done at ten o'clock at night when I was more than ready for bed.



When I arrived home from Hamilton this is how I found the lilies - most of the leaves had fallen on to the table, but they were good to draw.
]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry100131-091913 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:19:13 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry100113-205804


Here is Peg at her opening. She is a lovely vibrant lady who gets every enjoyment out of her life and work. She weaves most every day and produces a lot of wonderful, colourful hangings in her own technique using her damask loom.



Peg puts a lot of novelty yarns into her hangings, using colour and texture as a focal point for her work.



Four of The Professional Weavers Network of NZ Inc. Here we are, Wilson, me, Peg and Rose Pelvin. Rose stayed with me over the last couple of days and it was great having her here. She brought Peg down to Christchurch from Blenheim and has always been a wonderful support person for Peg.

]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry100113-205804 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:58:04 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091220-090423


Last week I travelled up to Blenheim with Penny Orme, a local arts writer, critic and curator. We visited Peg Moorhouse to choose her work for her exhibition at CoCA next month. Peg is 92 years old and is still weaving every day. Her exhibition will be held in the upstairs gallery at CoCA. I will post images of her work when the exhibition is hanging.

On our way home from Peg's place last Thursday Penny and I stopped off at the Marlborough District Council offices as I wanted to see the tapestry that I was commissioned to weave back in 1994 for the Women's Suffrage Committee. It had been hanging in the entrance to the Council office for over ten years and was spelled for about two years and put away in a cupboard for that period. It is now back in place but hanging away from the light coming in from the front door and is placed in a special alcove behind glass to protect it. Here is a photograph of the work in its new spot.



It is good to see that the tapestry is really appreciated and cared for by the people of Marlborough.



]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091220-090423 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:04:23 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091126-084053


The sett on this tapestry is 14epi and the size is approximately 32 x 24cm. I can't quite remember the actual size - will have to measure it when I get back in to the studio. The work is progressing well. I have done just over a week's work in this tapestry and I am now about half way through it.







The last photograph shows where I was up to yesterday at the end of the day.

]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091126-084053 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:40:53 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091108-083811


The next works are the same size 100x70cm as one section of the first drawing 'Marlborough Rock Daisy 1' which consisted of four sections to make one work. Here is Marlborough Rock Daisy 2' which I sold last weekend to people from Sydney who were visiting my studio. That was a big buzz for me as it was the first in the series to sell.



I will finish posting new images tonight as time has caught up with me and I need to get to the studio right now. Well, it's now Monday morning and I am again sitting in front of my computer after my shower so here goes with more images of the drawings.



This image shows the generic native manuka which has a small white flower that is about half the size of my little fingernail. This is what manuka honey is made from.



This is the Koromiko which is the native New Zealand hebe I think. It has great medicinal properties and I remember my dad picking the leaves of this plant and chewing them whenever he had a stomach ache. Seemed to work for him.



This drawing was the first one I did after the large Rock Daisy work and it has now been framed and is at the Two Rivers Gallery in Cheviot.



This last image is a close-up of a section of the drawing 'Iris Berries' The drawings are all the same size and the variation in the images here comes from the size of the photographs. Somehow I can't seem to get them to be the same size. But never mind, they are all pretty easy to see. These works are all for sale. If anyone would like to purchase one, just send me an e-mail from the Contact section at the top fo the blog. ]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091108-083811 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:38:11 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091101-081729






And now for us! We decided to have our photos taken in front of the title of the exhibition and here it is.



And lastly! Showing off!!





]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091101-081729 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:17:29 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091011-205220


This image shows the main wall of the exhibition space, with Wilson's large woven hanging 'Reflections' the small woven 'Perspectives' and the lovely delicate hanging 'Regency' on the right.






This view shows the cabinet in the back of the gallery, where I hung the four tapestries 'Lumination 1 - 4'. They were woven to fit into this space and work well there. Lurex threads were woven in to these tapestries so that they would catch the light.



Koji, the owner of the Gallery and a visitor to the opening study 'Illuminate 6' the largest of the monofilament weavings. A large number of people came to the opening, but I completely forgot to take photographs until most of them had left. Wil and I are really pleased with how the exhibition looks overall.



Here is an image of 'Illuminate 1' the first of these small weavings. It was the prototype for the others which were designed especially for this exhibition.













]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry091011-205220 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:52:20 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090918-112836


In the two weeks that I have been back working on this tapestry I have completed the section on the left corner, from halfway up the green bit and across to the pink blob in the middle. Not bad going really. It is surprising how quick the work grows if I put some substantial time into it. I will be really pleased to finish this work. It has been on the loom for far too long, but as I cannot afford to work on it full time I just have to be happy with what I can do. I would like to have it finished by this time next year.



I have also been working on the 'marketing' aspect of being an artist and that is what I find difficult. I spent two hours with a marketing expert and he has given me the confidence to go ahead and send out brochures etc. He also helped me identify my target market as I very much need to bring in some commissions to enable me to keep my studio going. I have sent a proposal for a tapestry to the chief executive of the Christchurch Airport and to the architect who is working on the new developments for the interenational terminal. Next week I have to ring them and make an appointment to go and have a chat with them about the possiblity of them commissioning a tapestry to hang at the airport. So wish me luck. I need a lot of courage to do this sort of promotional work as it is not easy for me to do this. However, I am giving it a go!!

Another thing I have been working on is the work for a small exhibition at Form Gallery. Wilson and I are exhibiting our work there in early October, so watch this space for images of new and different small works.






]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090918-112836 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:28:36 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090906-075626






There was not a huge number of people attending but Wil and I were both very pleased when we each sold a work. I was thrilled when Dee came up to me to say that she had bought the wee tapestry 'Two Sparrows'. She also bought one of Wilson's lovely scarves.



]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090906-075626 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:56:26 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090904-211604


It is all a bit of a jumble at this early stage. Wil has just stopped for a coffee after arranging his scarves on the plinths. You can just see his model in the background. She is a lovely black girl who had her head chopped off the other day and she definitely looks much better without her head. You will get a better view of the handwoven dress and cape in another photograph later.



Some of my work is now up on the wall. I am only showing two new works in this exhibition and they are the two black and white drawings you can see in the corner. None of my other work has ever been shown in the Selwyn district so it is good to be able to show it all again.



Here is one corner completed and looking good. The two very different styles of work look good together and the colours also worked amazingly well. We are very pleased with the overall look of the whole exhibition and I will post more photographs of the finished display. We still have to bring in a table tomorrow morning to show Wil's gothic table setting and as the opening starts at 10.00am in the morning it will be an early start to the day.






]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090904-211604 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:16:04 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090815-081506


The slight curve that you can see is a fault of the camera and I don't know how to fix that. If anyone can help me with this I would appreciate it. I can be e-mailed from this blog quite easily.

Also, if anyone out there would like to commission a tapestry from me please e-mail me with images that you would like me to work with. Nina sent me about six small snapshots of her and her partner, and from those I was able to isolate their faces and create two design concepts that I sent to her. She chose the more abstract one and the tapestry above is the result.

One of the beauties of tapestry is that they can be transported anywhere in the world quite easily as if they are not framed they can be rolled and are easy to handle. I only frame the smaller tapestries and I mount them in box frames so that they appear to be floating in their frame. I do not put them behind glass.

Tapestries are also easy to look after. They must not be hung in direct sunlight, but of course any art work should not be hung in direct sunlight. They can be lightly vacuumed every now and then to keep the dust off them. Tapestries are the most durable of all textiles and can last many many years if they are looked after. Some of the old tapestries in churches and old mansions were woven over 500 years ago. So they do make wonderful family heirlooms which can be passed down through the generations.]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090815-081506 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:15:06 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090718-083959




]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090718-083959 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:39:59 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090712-084453

On the last lap! here is a close up view of the work.



And here is the finished work, waiting to be cut off the loom. I am really pleased with how it looks. From a distance the faces come together very well. ]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090712-084453 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:44:53 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090706-083753
]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090706-083753 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:37:53 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090624-084506

Work is going well on Nina's tapestry and I have now had word from her that she is happy with the images I sent her of work in progress. She and her partner are away overseas at the moment. I think I have captured her personality quite well in this tapestry and I am now working on the second face and almost up to the eyes on this one. Once the eyes are woven the whole thing comes to life. If I get them right then the rest seems to follow.

]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090624-084506 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:45:06 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090615-085810

I have been working well on this portrait tapestry and here is an image of my progress to date.

]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090615-085810 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:58:10 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090611-084520


This first image shows that I have commenced work on the tapestry. It took three days to warp the loom - a lot of knots to tie to the top and bottom beams. The sett is 12ends per inch and I am using up to three strands of yarn in the weft. I needed the fine sett to be able to weave the fine detail in the faces.



Here I have completed the necks and am up to the hard bit capturing the likenesses in the faces. I need to be very accurate in building up the shapes that form the planes of the faces and I have done quite a bit of unpicking. Also the tonal values are very important. These must be right and the following photograph shows how I had to unpick a section in the left side of Nina's neck as I wasn't happy with the colour and the tonal value of it.



I am weaving in the new colour with a needle after pushing up some of the weft threads so that I did not have to take them all out. It worked okay thank goodness.











]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090611-084520 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:45:20 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090514-081215
The hanging of the Anthony Harper works started last Monday and the opening was on Tuesday evening. Hamish Keith was the selector and he chose around 160 works from ovver 400 which were entered in the award. 'Mysterium' did not win the award but I was happy just to have it in the exhibition. It was a bit of a mission getting it to the gallery as it is a large work and was sitting in its big heavy box in my garden shed and I enlisted the help of my brother Joe Rea to get it to CoCA. We had to put it together there and carry it up the stairs to where it was going to hang. Warren Feeney the director of CoCA made a great job of hanging all the works. This exhibition is one of the largest exhibitions to be held at CoCA and is their main award exhibition for the year. The exhibition is very eclectic with works accepted from all over the country, many different genres from paintings to sculptures to object works, photographs and digital works A very difficult exhibition to hang, but it all looks great.



'Mysterium' is the work on the back wall straight ahead. A lot of the modular works were hung in this part of the gallery. The exhibition took up two galleries, the Mair Gallery and the North Gallery and my work is hanging in the back partition in the North Gallery.



]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090514-081215 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Wed, 13 May 2009 20:12:15 GMT http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090503-083834 exhibition was curated by Penny Orme who invited each participating artist to submit two works for the exhibition. My two tapestries, Exhibition Opening and Musicians in the Square on hanging together as a pair and I am really pleased with how they look. It is the first time they have been shown together.




]]> http://www.tapestry.co.nz/blog/index.php?entry=entry090503-083834 Marilyn Rae-Menzies Sat, 02 May 2009 20:38:34 GMT