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Mindscape, 1978
free-form weaving, hand-dyed; jute, sisal, mixed fibres
177.8 x 96.52 x 17.79 cm
Collection of Surrey Art Gallery, Gift of Bruce Ambrose, 2004.05.01
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Inese Birstins
b. 1942, Madona, Latvia
In 1978, with only a few years of weaving instruction under her belt, Inese Birstins conducted two residencies at the Banff Centre for the Arts: Sculptural Weaving and Fibre in Architectural Space.
Mindscape, which dates to this period, suggests Birstins’ command of her medium and commitment to pushing the limits of weaving through an exploration of natural materials and textures, an expansion into three dimensions, and references to inner thoughts and landscapes. Birstins was one of a handful of Canadians included in Constantine and Larsen’s groundbreaking book, The Art Fabric Mainstream (1981) with her felted work Interchange II (1979)—possibly created during the Banff Fibre Interchange residency of 1979.
01.
Inese Birstins standing in front of Mindscape, c. 1978. Source: Inese Birstins.
02.
Inese Birstins dying wool, c. 1978. Source: Inese Birstins.
03.
Detail view of Mindscape in c. 1978. Source: Inese Birstins.
04.
Mindscape on the loom, c. 1978. Source: Inese Birstins.
05.
Inese Birstins in woven garments. Source: Inese Birstins.