Seven years of fibre arts symposiums

Tutors Anne Kelly from England, Kathryn Harmer Fox from South Africa and American Lisa Carll who now lives in Waikanae. Photo Stuart Munro

Local artist Julz Coffey has been a main driver and organiser of the annual Fibre Arts Symposium held in Whanganui for seven years now.

This year was one of the best, with 78 participants attending the week-long event, held at Whanganui Girls' College last month.

"This was my swan song," says Coffey.

"After seven years of assisting and recently organising the event, I am handing over to Fiona McCrae and Sandra Brooks from Wellington, who will continue to run the event in Whanganui.

"Next year I will participate as an artist in residence, so I will be able to enjoy myself as well as being on hand to answer questions."

The artist says the number of tutors and participants has almost doubled since she started the event with Trish Finlay in 2010.

"This year we had seven international tutors delivering workshops in seven fibre arts disciplines.

"In 2010, there were four tutors with 42 participants, so it keeps on growing."

This year there were workshops on encaustic design using fibre and wax, fabric portraits using sewing machines, collage, books of fabric and fibre and models utilising found objects.

Tutors came from the UK, US, South Africa and Canada as well as differents parts of New Zealand while participants came from differents parts of New Zealand.

Vistors stayed at Whanganui Girls' College's Ad Astra Hostel, where they were well fed and watered says Coffey.

She is now heading off to stay with a cousin at Waitangi in the Chatham Islands to create a range of postcards for the tourist market.