Blurring the lines of creative weaving

“It’s a really unique work-style that Judi does, and it has a philosophy behind it,” she said. “It’s a Japanese philosophy that there are no mistakes. It is just sort of free-wheel art form.”

The style of weaving actually dates back to the 1960s, when it was first invented by a Japanese woman.

“She had taken some of her traditional weaving to another venue and it was turned away because it had a flaw in it,” Garven said of the origins of the art. “She didn’t see the imperfection as a flaw.”

Garven explained the woman who created the form determined flaws are subjective, while a “formal perfect type of art form” can have its own limitations.

The show has been running at the local gallery since January and features a selection of Gay’s work reflecting different styles of Saori weaving.

Every moment is just a different path, and there is no instruction required to weave. You just let the weaving happen, and that’s the beauty of it,” Garven said of the craft.

Artist Judi Gay, left, at her No Roadmap Required show on now at the Chapel Gallery until Saturday. (submitted photo/ Leah Garven)

When reached at her studio Earthshine Saori Weaving in Saskatoon, Gay said she learned the Saori weaving a number of years ago. She actually met the style creator’s son recently on a trip to Japan.

She said meeting many other people from around the world also involved in the craft while at the studio was a positive experience.

“I just immersed myself in the culture and community,” Gay said. “It was wonderful.”

She added she appreciates the art for what it offers.

“There is no intricate patterning required, no rules about your (knit) tension or gauge, it’s whatever is coming out of you is coming from your heart and that makes it a valuable expression,” she said.

Gay will show her work and give a demonstration at the upcoming Biggar Fibre Fair on June 8.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Blurring the lines of creative weaving

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