A request from Objectspace

Naiomi Murgatroyd from Objectspace has asked us to spread the word about their upcoming exhibition of work by Susan Holmes:

“Objectspace Masters of Craft exhibition series is back this year with a show celebrating the over four-decade long career of Auckland fabric artist Susan Holmes whose work has spanned from potato printed scarves, through hand crafted garments and into wearable art.

We’re on the hunt for Susan Holmes creations to enrich this exhibition. Do you have any of the early potato printed silk scarves or cotton voile shirts Susan was selling in the 1970s through boutiques like Trina J in Auckland and at the popular Brown’s Mill market? Or perhaps you have some of her later pieces from the 1980s when she made garments from knit panels in cream and open gauge knits in pastel shades? Or the elaborate and richly dyed garments she also made late in this era using a unique crinkle silk technique that she
developed? Susan’s most well-known work is that in the wearable art field, alongside this she also produced some non-wearable artwork we are looking to find: fabric sculptures, banners and wall hangings were exhibited and sold at the likes of Compendium Gallery, Northart Gallery and Gallery on One around Auckland throughout the 1980s.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 19 November at Objectspace, and closes Saturday 4 February 2017. If you have a Susan Holmes piece which you think might be suitable we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch by email, with a description of the piece and images if possible, as well as your story about the garment.

Email us on info@objectspace.org.nz or call 09 376 6216.
Media Contact: Naiomi Murgatroyd, Programme Manager: naiomi@objectspace.org.nz
Top Left: Block printed cotton maxi dress, early 1970’s, image by Alex Khouri, courtesy of Susan Holmes
Top right: Cream wool angora long coat dress and hat, 1985, image by Phil Fogle

Above: Castaway Dress, Susan’s first crinkle silk dress, featured in Fashion Quarterly 1988, image by Phil Fogle”

If you can help, contact the gallery at the email above; otherwise, one to add to the 2017 exhibition list.