News & Updates
Whistler Arts Council (Arts Whistler)
Artist of the Month
Arts Whistler, October 2022: Fran is a contemporary Canadian artist who combines traditional textile techniques with unconventional materials to create unique woven sculptures, both free-standing and wall-mounted.
"I enjoy using these 'masculine' materials and hardware pieces - washers, electrical whatever, bike parts and gears - and turning them into quilts and basket vessels with more of a domestic/feminine dynamic."
"I don't know where this fascination comes from nor do I have any idea what the proper use of most of these things might be. I am intrigued by the ways that the shapes, patinas, and colours of prosaic materials and objects can be recombined into a different pattern in a new context."
You can see Frans's incredible work at the @audainartmuseum or online at www.francessolar.com.
Artemorbida Textile Arts Magazine
Interview
By Maria Rosaria Roseo
Frances Solar is a Canadian-born artist who, after an education in Interior Design at the University of Manitoba, turned to fiber art, focusing on weaving.
By using textile techniques and industrial recycled materials, the artist creates sculptural metal vases and interesting wall artworks that, while recalling the idea of a traditional American quilt, deviate from it thanks to the experimental use of unusual rigid and heavy material such as stainless steel and metal washers to recreate shapes that give a feeling of fluidity and flexibility.
Solar’s numerous awards and recognitions for her work include: the Fine Craft Artist of the Year Award, 2017; the Niche Award 2017 Finalist; the Niche Award 2016 Winner, Scrapyard Quilt (mixed media) and Finalist, Rumpled (fabricated metal); the Brentwood Arts Exchange, Excellence in Fine Craft Award, 2015.
Older works still available
Fran no longer creates scrapyard quilts or super nova wall hangings but a few pieces remain available for purchase.
Click images to enlarge.
SCRAPYARD QUILT 8 an arrangement of woven metal elements, industrial scrap, using copper, brass, stainless steel. Mounted on bronze mesh squares. 56x120cm/22x47"
SCRAPYARD QUILT 9 an arrangement of woven metal elements and industrial scrap have been stitched onto squares of stainless steel mesh. Copper, brass, steel are used. 56x120cm/22x47"
SUPERNOVA 4 a collection of circles-washers, bike cogs, industrial scrap, woven copper, coins, has been stitched onto a stainless steel mesh panel, ready to hang. 23x117cm/9x46"
SUPERNOVA 11 assorted circles using copper wire, bike cogs, coins, industrial scrap, bottle caps, and glass have been stitched onto a bronze mesh panel, ready to hang.25x82cm/10x32.5"
SUPERNOVA 15 a collection of circles-copper wire, industrial scrap, bike cogs, glass, coins has been stitched onto a stainless steel mesh panel, ready to hang. 23x 92cm/9x36"