Reception: RMG Fridays, December 1, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, December 2, 1-3pm
Looking at the journey of the line, in regards to the similarities between thread/textile techniques and drawing, this show will explore the technical aspect of textile construction as well as the relationship that happens between minimalism and the handmade; emphasizing the techniques and textures that come through allowing and embracing ‘mistakes’.
The pieces in this show will take inspiration from minimalism, op art, and the digital age, but using traditional textile construction techniques such as weaving and sewing. This show will consist of fabric sculptures and drawings that have been created in tandem with each other in an exploratory sense and they will look at how a subtle shift in material or technique can have drastic changes to the end result of the piece.
Bio: Colleen McCarten is an emerging Toronto-based artist whose work is based primarily in textile techniques such as weaving, sewing and other fibre-based practices, as well as drawing, painting, and collage. She uses these techniques to examine the legacy of 20th Century art movements such as Op Art, Minimalism and hard-edged abstraction. McCarten holds a Bachelors of Material Art and Design from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU), and is the recipient of the Material Art and Design Medal for her graduating year.
McCarten recently had a solo exhibition at Angell Gallery’s Project Space, and has been included in group shows at Harbourfront Centre and the Textile Museum of Canada. She has received awards for her textile-based practice, including the “Best in Fibre” award at the 2014 iteration of the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, and has received an Exhibition Assistance grant from the Ontario Arts Council. She has also produced artworks for commercial and retail clients.