Though Gibsons artist Ursula Bentz has loved textile arts since childhood, her work has stepped up a notch over the past few years. She was once known for her felting - a process that washes and shapes wool - and she was frequently to be seen selling her felted hats at Coast craft markets. But her artistic universe expanded when she attended a textile arts course at Capilano College (now University), graduating in 2005.
"I loved it," she said. "They wanted more art than just hats."
She moved into the creative field of wearable art, designing and making one-of-a-kind fashion pieces: full-length dresses such as Lady Guinevere might have worn, light and dainty camisoles, colourful vests with felted balls for buttons and outrageous short dresses such as the one she describes as Marilyn Merlot. The scrunched fabric skirt features grape-like bobbles, each one hand painted, that hang from a gold bodice and wide shoulder straps.
"It's fun to do something like this," she said, displaying a photo of a young model at ease in the cheeky outfit.
One of her Capilano instructors worked for the movie industry and Bentz learned how to distress fabric, a process that makes it look aged. Her soft grey, distressed gown looks like something out of the elfin world of Lord of the Rings.
Seven of these dresses and several vests, wall hangings and accessories will be on display at the Fibreworks Gallery in Garden Bay in a show running April 3 to May 2.
Ursula's Collection, as the show is called, will be held in spinner and weaver Yvonne Stowell's round gallery, just off the Coast highway in a collection of yurt buildings, and it will include wearables using silk fusion, recycled natural and man-made materials. Some are new and some have been shown at the annual Port Moody Wearable Art show.
"It's the highlight of my year - to enter this show," Bentz explains in her soft German accent. It puts her in touch with others who love the same art, and she hopes it will help her find a niche in the fashion design industry.
A wearable art creation from Bentz, a gemstone green, silk fusion dress, handily won the Peoples' Choice award at the 2008 Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival. Silk is a fabric she really understands. A rich brown silk cape with lace sandwiched between its layers looks truly like an animal pelt - but it's not. The faux fur look is strictly 1940s; it is dignified and classic. She will also show a silk top pleated in the shibori style that looks as dainty as an eggshell.
"It's not fragile, and it's easy to wear," she said.
The only caveat is remembering to have it dry cleaned or risk having to re-pleat the fabric. To embellish the top she has added a mussel shell necklace and one of dried rosebuds. She's always looking for new fibres, and they can be found anywhere. Recently, she worked with a web of plant material that she has boiled and prepared until it looks like green spaghetti. This kind of fibre provides the textural elements in her wall hangings, and it makes you want to touch them.
On Saturday, April 24, Bentz will host a painting with wool workshop at Fibreworks. The materials are prepared: bags bursting with her hand-dyed wool in oranges and wine reds, golds and bronzes.
"I feel like a painter when I apply these layers of colour," she said.
Using the medium of wool, participants will create a felted picture which could become a small wall hanging, purse, pillow cover or accessory to be stitched onto something else.
The award-winning, green silk fusion dress and another like it in gold have been sold, but many of the vests and accessories will be for sale during the forthcoming show. You can meet the artist at an opening reception on Saturday, April 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Fibreworks Gallery. The timing also gives you a chance to visit some of the other open galleries during the ArtWave weekend in that area. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and by appointment. Phone 604-883-2380 or visit www.gunboatbaylodge.com/fibreworks.html for more.
