Image detail: Alexander the Great.The Hooligan of British Fashion Deb Shepherd 2021 Bernina Award recipient
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Congratulations to our winners 2022!
Winners Announcements |
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Supreme Award -$4000
jointly sponsored by Nelson City Council and Arts Council Nelson Claire Ellery - Strata Wellington - Te Whanganui - a - Tara
Wooden coffee stirrers, NZ wool. 1130mm x 1700mm Tapestry Weaving My practice addresses issues that lie at the core of who we are and engages with objects of everyday life using materials that are generally ignored and forgotten. Strata is a contemporary take on traditional tapestry making and its historical importance. Through this labour intensive process, I question mass production in contemporary society by suggesting a potential second life of the discarded object. |
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Award of Distinction - $1500
jointly sponsored by Fresh Choice Nelson and Arts Council Nelson: Janet Bathgate -Microphyllum anxietaceae Nelson - Whakatū fabrics, paint, thread, dried leaves, pins. approx. 2400 mm x 1800 mm hand painted, hand stitched and assembled |
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For the past two years we have experienced anxiety. It doesn’t scream out at us, or dramatically overwhelm, but hovers about the background, creating everyday micro-decisions of detailed nuance that, prior to Covid, never existed – how close to this stranger do I pass when out walking; do I hug my friend who has just returned from a wedding in Queenstown… …and the list continues. When asked, we say we are fine, and we are; but under the surface is a tension, and it has changed our lives. Time will pass; a new reality will emerge, as will a new virus. Life is an odd, mysterious and beautiful thing. The leaves are a Dracophyllum genus of the Ericaceae family.
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Dame Suzie Moncrieff Merit Award -$500 jointly sponsored by
Dame Suzie Moncrieff, Creative Journeys. Donna Allfrey - Kai Christchurch/Ōtautahi foam shaping 4800 mm x 1100 mm |
I love to upcycle and find ways of reusing objects and materials in my work.
Kai is an artwork made of the ends of foam matting. The texture and shapes of the foam inspired this piece. I experimented with the unusual material to create interesting shapes, ending in a fish/ waka shape. Sculpture is my first love in the world of art.
Kai is an artwork made of the ends of foam matting. The texture and shapes of the foam inspired this piece. I experimented with the unusual material to create interesting shapes, ending in a fish/ waka shape. Sculpture is my first love in the world of art.
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Bernina Award - $2000 sponsored by Bernina New Zealand for the most creative use of a sewing machine:
Jeanette Verster - Hollow Words New Plymouth/Ngāmotu papier mache, cotton thread, ink, wax 500 mm x 500 mm x 150 mm each A group of 5 paper mache, machine stitched and waxed vessels A literal interpretation of words and phrases that are widely used, often by politicians. "Thoughts and prayers" are often offered by politicians after tragic events in which case the words are usually meaningless and just an obligatory public declaration of pseudo-care. The other phrases are often spoken with good intent, but they seldom translate into action. |
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FINALISTS 2022
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the amazing artists from around the country whose creative effort and commitment enable us the privilege of presenting such a wonderful showcase of contemporary New Zealand fibre and textile art practice. Competition for inclusion was particularly high this year as was the quality of work entered. There were 129 entries and a hearty congratulations goes out to all entrants and to the 35 finalists and 49 pieces that have been selected for inclusion in the exhibition and will be considered for the $8500 in awards.
Donna Allfrey
Eleftheria Apostolidis
Janet Bathgate
Helen Beaven
Ngaio Blackwood
Lisa Call
Claire Ellery
Leslie Falls
Trisha Findlay
Bruno Harding
Lee Harper
Lane Hawkins
Sue Heydon
Wendy Lawson
Alison Leauanae
Marion Manson
Michelle Mayn
Victoria McIntosh
Adele McNutt
Alysn Midgelow-Marsden
Birgit Moffatt
Kari Morseth
Jess Moughan
Lisa Passmore
Colleen Plank
Sarah Pumphrey
Claudia Recorean
Sally Reynolds
Leanne Rogerson
Angela Rowe
Catharine Salmon
Norma Slabbert
Rose Sorren-Norness
Jeanette Verster
Christine Wingels
Exhibition dates
25th March - 23rd April
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the amazing artists from around the country whose creative effort and commitment enable us the privilege of presenting such a wonderful showcase of contemporary New Zealand fibre and textile art practice. Competition for inclusion was particularly high this year as was the quality of work entered. There were 129 entries and a hearty congratulations goes out to all entrants and to the 35 finalists and 49 pieces that have been selected for inclusion in the exhibition and will be considered for the $8500 in awards.
Donna Allfrey
Eleftheria Apostolidis
Janet Bathgate
Helen Beaven
Ngaio Blackwood
Lisa Call
Claire Ellery
Leslie Falls
Trisha Findlay
Bruno Harding
Lee Harper
Lane Hawkins
Sue Heydon
Wendy Lawson
Alison Leauanae
Marion Manson
Michelle Mayn
Victoria McIntosh
Adele McNutt
Alysn Midgelow-Marsden
Birgit Moffatt
Kari Morseth
Jess Moughan
Lisa Passmore
Colleen Plank
Sarah Pumphrey
Claudia Recorean
Sally Reynolds
Leanne Rogerson
Angela Rowe
Catharine Salmon
Norma Slabbert
Rose Sorren-Norness
Jeanette Verster
Christine Wingels
Exhibition dates
25th March - 23rd April
Artists stretching the boundaries of Fibre and Textiles
Changing Threads National Contemporary Fibre Art Awards is a National Exhibition organised by Arts Council Nelson and held annually at the Refinery Artspace gallery in the Nelson CBD.
For the past twelve years ACN have presented this now prestigious showcase attracting the highest calibre of NZ's leading contemporary fibre and
textile practitioners. With the impetus of challenging the public perception of work in this field, artists responses have led to strong International interest in the event.
Open to all artists currently living in New Zealand
Artworks must predominantly feature fibres or textiles, which may be natural, synthetic or a any combination of these. Work may use any technique or mix of techniques and may be two or three dimensional. There is no limitation on size of work which may be free-standing, wall mounted or suspended.
For the past twelve years ACN have presented this now prestigious showcase attracting the highest calibre of NZ's leading contemporary fibre and
textile practitioners. With the impetus of challenging the public perception of work in this field, artists responses have led to strong International interest in the event.
Open to all artists currently living in New Zealand
Artworks must predominantly feature fibres or textiles, which may be natural, synthetic or a any combination of these. Work may use any technique or mix of techniques and may be two or three dimensional. There is no limitation on size of work which may be free-standing, wall mounted or suspended.
For thousands of years textiles have been part of the lives of people across the globe. The craft of designing or creating textiles involved the skills and creativity of weaving, knitting, felting or knotting fibres which could then be embellished by the maker. From the early uses for shelter, warmth, and household needs, textiles also had decorative purposes and have held an important place in many cultures around the world.
Since the late 1960’s Textile and Fibre artists have been developing new forms,stretching the use of traditional techniques. Their work in this area has become more conceptual and involves different materials which are both natural and synthetic. Contemporary Fibre and Textile artists explore a variety of possibilities, pushing pre-conceived ideas of the limits of this medium as they employ them for personal expression.
World events of the past year have allowed more time for reflection, experimentation and individual contemplation. Artists in the show have used this time to produce work of an exceptional standard which utilise fibres as their medium for expression. We are grateful to our entrants for their continued enthusiasm for the show, and to the sponsors who support our ongoing vision.
Veronica Martin. Creative Director
Since the late 1960’s Textile and Fibre artists have been developing new forms,stretching the use of traditional techniques. Their work in this area has become more conceptual and involves different materials which are both natural and synthetic. Contemporary Fibre and Textile artists explore a variety of possibilities, pushing pre-conceived ideas of the limits of this medium as they employ them for personal expression.
World events of the past year have allowed more time for reflection, experimentation and individual contemplation. Artists in the show have used this time to produce work of an exceptional standard which utilise fibres as their medium for expression. We are grateful to our entrants for their continued enthusiasm for the show, and to the sponsors who support our ongoing vision.
Veronica Martin. Creative Director
The Selection Panel
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Veronica (Ronnie) Martin
Ronnie Martin is an award-winning textile and mixed media artist. She has had several solo shows, and exhibited widely in national and international exhibitions. She has received a number of awards for mixed media, creative textiles and painting. She is currently on the committee of the Nelson Suter Art Society. Ronnie is part of the Creative Journey Workshops group and is a very experienced tutor. She is passionate about community arts education and sits on the Creative Communities committee. Ronnie has been a guest judge for many Quilting, Embroidery and Creative Fibre exhibitions and has been the Creative Director for Changing Thread Awards show for Contemporary Fibres and textiles since its inception "This prestigious exhibition aims to challenge the public perception of fibre and textile art. The work is conceptual, with a high standard of technical skill". |
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Jo Kinross
Jo Kinross is a contemporary fibre artist living and working in Nelson NZ. In 2003, with her partner, artist David Ryan, she moved from Melbourne. Moving to Nelson provided Jo with the opportunity to work full time with textiles. Working with natural materials and sustainable studio practices are an essential part of her work. Contemporary natural dyeing is a focal point of her work. In 2014 she started to work almost exclusively with organic indigo on natural fibres. Working with natural dyes, botanical inks and graphite on paper has since become the main vehicle for Jo’s creative expression. She is also committed to arts education and community development and is a partner in Creative Journeys Workshops. Jo has been involved with Changing Threads since 2010, first as an exhibitor and from 2013 to the present as a Selector. |
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Josephine Cachemaille Josephine Cachemaille is an award-winning installation artist who makes paintings, objects and assemblages. Her installations offer sustained scenarios for sensuous engagement with her artworks, playfully asking viewers to enter into the explicitly anthropomorphic activity that underpins her methodology. She has had multiple solo and public exhibitions, including recent shows with The Dowse Art Museum, Wallace Arts Trust Pah Homestead, and Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau. Recent work has shown at The University of Hawai’i, and The University of Wyoming Art Museum and she was part of the New Zealand Presentation at the Beijing Biennale, 2019. She lives in Nelson New Zealand with her husband, music journalist Grant Smithies and their daughter Rosa. |
Introducing to the Judging Panel 2022...
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Lynn Taylor
Dunedin artist Lynn Taylor (Dip Tch, BEd, BFA, MFA) is known for nautical and historically themed work with focus on mapping, memory and the poetics of place which transcribe into creating layered prints, surfaces and books. Lynn approaches her art practice with a variety of research methodologies and a ‘printmaker’s sensibility’, which includes discovering links between ideas and materiality, integrating different mediums and responding to unexpected results.
Teaching/ arts facilitation forms a dual career path; from work in the Textiles and Printmaking Departments at the School of Art - Te Pūkenga, to undertaking contracts far and wide with art groups, communities and institutions. In recent years she has worked with the Sandpit Collective as a Sci Art researcher, facilitating workshops where art is used as a platform to raise awareness about specific conservation challenges and act as an agent for change. She regularly undertakes invited funded artist residencies nationally and internationally including Otakou Press, Woosuk University and Newfoundland (2019), Quarantine Island (2020). International exhibitions include showing in Australia, Japan, Korea, Argentina, Finland, Sweden, Scotland and America and she enjoys an ongoing connection with Scotland from The Westland Project and Sweden with Paradise Lost. Her work is frequently commissioned, held in both public and private collections and has received several scholarships and awards, the most recent being an Otago Polytechnic Distinguished Alumni Award. |
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Gill Saunders
Gill Saunders is a multiple award winning textile artist. Originally from the UK Gill came to New Zealand in 1996 and now lives in Nelson. She began her career as a furnishing textile designer and colourist and then retrained as a Theatre designer. "On the strength of that, I worked at Granada Television in Manchester, UK where I was a stage hand, props maker and set dresser on various television productions up until I emigrated." After a permanent position as props maker at the Court Theatre in Wellington Saunders moved to Nelson and became a props/costume/wardrobe technician for World of Wearable Art. Gill has taken out several section awards in the World of Wearable Art competition including the Supreme Award in 2016. "Currently I'm enjoying more of an illustrative focus with my whimsical embroideries and textile sculptures depicting birds and insects and combining them with costume." |
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FLOOR TALKS In collaboration with Nelson City Council as part of the Tuku 22 programme |
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Fast Fashion Meets Textile Art
SAT 2nd April 11am The Fast Fashion Industry has exploded since the turn of this century, and now there is a new ‘season’ of clothing styles every week where there were once four per year. ‘The Wrong Way’, created out of 1001 worn garments from charity store and recycle centres that were destined for Landfill, illustrates the enormity of the problems that this industry creates today. This one industry is creating immense environmental damage that is directly related to Climate Change. Art leaves a window of the culture of the time when it was created and offers insights into society: its behaviours, lifestyles and issues that people are facing, and can open up dialogue about the changes that we need to make. Can Textile Art be a catalyst for the urgent changes that are so desperately needed? |
Maggy J
Multi - award winner Maggy J will be giving a talk about one of her passions
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Stretching the Boundaries of Traditional Practise with Ronnie Martin
SUN 3rd April 11am & SUN 10th April 11am
A floor talk and guided tour of the 2022 Changing Threads Contemporary Fibre & Textile Awards Finalists Exhibition by Creative Director Ronnie Martin. An interactive talk on how contemporary artists work is pushing preconceived ideas of the traditional limits of this medium.
SUN 3rd April 11am & SUN 10th April 11am
A floor talk and guided tour of the 2022 Changing Threads Contemporary Fibre & Textile Awards Finalists Exhibition by Creative Director Ronnie Martin. An interactive talk on how contemporary artists work is pushing preconceived ideas of the traditional limits of this medium.
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Virtual TourSee below....The 2021 showcase was stunning and was best experienced in person. But these are tricky times. Our friends at Uniquely Nelson have put together a virtual tour for those who were unable to be with us on the opening night. See below... |
Catalogue 2022
Our huge thanks to the Copy Press for supporting the production of the
2022 catalogue 
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A warm thank you to our entrants, finalists, selectors, judges, supporters, collaborators and Award Sponsors for 2022.
