Art presented in many shapes

Textile artist Jenny Brown with some of her work, and some of the materials she uses. Photo/Bevan Conley

Wanganui artists are famous for their glass, their print-making and their painting.

But there's another Wanganui artist quietly making a name for herself in a very different medium.

Jenny Brown is a textile artist, creating exquisite works of art out of repurposed fabrics, ribbon and buttons.

Mrs Brown is one of more than 100 artists taking part in this year's Artists Open Studios Whanganui. For the third year in a row she'll be exhibiting and working from her home studio in College Estate.

Textiles are, you might say, in Mrs Brown's blood. Originally from Wellington, she says her mother was one of her biggest inspirations.

"She used to be the textile conservator at Te Papa.

"For as long as I can remember she's always been embroidering, she's always been interested in textiles."

Mrs Brown said her mother travelled to Wanganui every year for Open Studios.

Mrs Brown studied textile art in Wellington, and landed herself a job designing luggage.

She's also done interior design and designed furnishing fabrics.

"We moved to Wanganui 19 years ago and it was then I decided I want to do my own stuff."

She studied photography at UCOL and also got into painting - both of which inform her textile work.

"I'll take a photograph and take one element out of it and reconstruct it with fabric."

Mrs Brown also enjoys separating a photograph into pieces then putting it back together in a different configuration, like a quilt.

This year, with the second of her three children leaving home, she plans to devote herself more to her art.

"I want to work in a much smaller scale, and I'm also doing a lot of hand-stitching this year."

She also plans to exhibit more, particularly outside Wanganui.

Mrs Brown said textile work had often been seen more as "craft" than "art" but that was changing.

"Textiles are being seen more as art these days, and that's how it should be.

"Textiles take as much time and energy and creativity as the more traditional arts, like painting."

Mrs Brown said she enjoys interacting with people during Open Studios. She's grateful to Renata Szarvas of Renata's Art & Framing for providing the framing for her work.

She can be found on Facebook by searching for Jenny Brown Creative.