Meet the Artist - Helen Fraser

 

As both an artist and psychologist I create art that connects the past to the present using symbols that can heal and transform.  I love creating ink and gouache drawings of textiles as well as artworks using hand-stitching and embroidery that I hope offer a sense of comfort, inspiration and hope to the viewer. This year I have also taken the exciting leap of designing textiles for the first time inspired by a workshop with the UK Textile Designer Kaffe Fassett.

Passionate about textiles, I study vintage and contemporary textiles along with the traditions and culture in which the maker lives, to more deeply understand the work.  By looking very closely at embroideries, weavings, knitting, quilting, dyed fabric, tassels and passementerie I build up a knowledge of the specific marks and patterns within a particular type of textile so that it can inform my art practice.  By really looking at the textile and then creating a drawing, I hope to ‘feel’ the essence of it, especially when I develop a series of works that builds upon an idea.

I love the idea that textiles are a metaphor for the human condition. As a psychologist and artist, I often use motifs like knots, frayed threads, fabric fragments, warp and weft, lace knitting and stitching in my work.  I believe we are all imperfect and flawed and our psyche is pushing us towards greater consciousness throughout our life cycle.  Therefore, the tactile and primal elements of cloth and stitch appeal to my love of psychology, dreams and working with the unconscious to uncover infantile experiences and longings. I like to think that my art helps the viewer accept themselves and others more deeply by seeing how I share my own imperfections, challenges and learnings through these artworks.

Over the last few years I have developed a strong interest in social art and collaboration.  My recent art practice has been strongly influenced by my involvement with the United Declaration of Human Rights Quilt Project where I was one of 131 artists from 45 countries that contributed to four quilts that are currently being exhibited in Canberra before heading on a world tour.  Research for this has inspired an ongoing project about Australia’s hidden slave history and frontier wars. This project has already led to many rewarding experiences and connections and will inform future exhibitions.

Over the last year I have started to offer commission drawings of vintage and/or loved textiles such as heirloom quilts, favourite embroideries or stitched pieces and this process is very rewarding.  Many of my collectors send photos of my work framed in their homes, which is deeply gratifying and enjoyable.  It is really wonderful to see that my art is making a difference.  It is a real dream come true! 

Thank you to all of my wonderful followers and collectors; you make this art making journey matter in a deeply personal way.

 Solo Exhibitions

 2018  Tassels and Fragments, Falkner Gallery,  Castlemaine      

2018    Mountain Life, Gisborne Gazette, Gisborne

2017    Mountain Is Myself, Gallerysmith Project Space, North         Melbourne                           

2017     Mummy, I’ve Lost my Teddy, Alternating Current Art Space, Windsor                 

2013     Footsteps Through the Forest, Exhibit Artist Space, Kyneton          

 Selected Group Exhibitions            

2018     Small Works From a Big Place, Jumpleads, Central Victoria (current)                 

2018      Embroidery For All Seasons, Embroidery Guild of Victoria, Bendigo Branch            

2018      United Declaration of Human Rights Quilt Project, Museum of Australian Democracy, Canberra (current)                   

2018       Follow the Thread, Living Arts Space, Bendigo  

2018       Camberwell Art Show, Melbourne

2018        Collaberration with Danish Quapoor, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery           

2017        Annual Altered Book/Book Arts Exhibition, Marin MOCA, California                     

2017        Nasty Women Everywhere, Melbourne

2017        Nasty Women Art Exhibition, New York

2015        White Shoe Box Gallery, Castlemaine State Festival

2015         Art in the Streets, Bendigo

2014         Diversity, Black Anther Gallery, Woodend

2013         Imagine, Bakery Lane, Woodend 

2013          Picture This, Gasworks Art Park 

2006          Linden Postcard Show, St Kilda

2005          The Artery, Brunswick

2004          Gallery 99, Flinders Street, Melbourne

 Collections

Centre for Adult Education Library, Melbourne

Scotch College, Melbourne

Private Collections in Australia, USA and Canada

Imago Mundi – Luciano Benetton Collection, Italy

 Bibilography

'A Long Search For My True Voice', Down Under Textiles, Edition 34, Nov/Dec 2018, p.73-76.

Gisborne Gazette: ‘A Meditative Exhibition’, April 2018, p. 10

MindFood Magazine: 2018 Future Trends Report – Slavery in Art Form, Jan/Feb 2018, p.11.

Looking Down Under: Contemporary Artists From Australia, 2016, p.164-165.

Bendigo Advertiser, ‘A Child Of The Forest’, February 18, 2015, p. 04

Bendigo Advertiser, 'Art In The Streets 2015: Showcasing Local and Regional Artists', February 13, 2015, p.03 & .06

Sunbury Leader, 'Childhood Memories Come To Life', June 11, 2013, p. 07

 Community Projects

 2017/18    United Declaration of Human Rights Quilt Project, Melbourne

2017          Nasty Women Art Exhibition, Melbourne (Development)                                  

2016           You Are So Very Beautiful, Melbourne

2016            Art Matters, Pop Up Art Group, Central Victoria

Artist Talks

 2019          UDHR Quilt Project, TBA 

2018           Falkner Gallery, Castlemaine

2018           UDHR Quilt Project Talks by Artists as part of  Craftivism HQ Exhibition by Tal Fitzpatrick                

2018            Kew Gardens Aged Care, Kew, Melbourne

2017            Embroidery Guild of Victoria, Bendigo Branch

2013            Exhibit Artist Space, Kyneton