Fiberworks - A Celebration of South African
Fiber and Textile Artists

Title: Sparkling Water

Description: This work evolved from an exploration of new materials and a quest to evoke the sparkle of water. The freshness of a new day with early morning dew is always revitalizing for me. Water is G-d’s gift to humankind – it nurtures, cleanses and purifies both us and the world around us. It can be transformed yet retains its inherent properties.

I have experimented with different materials, adding various elements and burning away others. Such is the nature of water – it can be added to many different substances, yet can also evaporate under extreme temperatures.

Title: Alpha Dreams

Description: Searching for peace in our land, I feel that the only time I am worry-free is in my dreams. During alpha sleep mode I can go places I have never been before, experience things I would not usually encounter and create magic. I become an unlimited being; I can be whatever I want to be.

Title: The Ten Commandments

Description: This work relates to "The Ten Commandments" and the fact that they were given to us at Mount Sinai thousands of years ago and yet they have not only survived but flourished and are just as relevant today as they were then.

In order to create an 'Olde Worlde' map effect, baking paper was ironed onto the base fabric (face down) which gave me the grid lines needed to form the map. Appliqué paper was painted and ironed onto the cloth in order to create a base for the landscape. Different fabrics were then layered and sewn into place in order to create a landscape effect. Areas were burned into with a heat gun in order to reflect the belief that the Ten Commandments were burned into the tablets that were presented to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. Wool and thread were used to delineate the shape of the maps of Israel (both historic and modern) which are joined, indicating the continuation of the faith of the Jewish Nation and their belief in the Ten Commandments.

My working process ties up with the layering that happens in history. The Jewish people have, over thousands of years, moved through and lived in many countries worldwise yet have maintained their heritage throughout the years.

Title: After the Storm

Description: This work is a reflection of the beauty of the South African landscape after a storm. It seems to cleanse and rejuvenate both the land and the soul. The extraordinary vistas of the estuary and the intense beauty of the Knysna area inspired this work. The magnificence of the territory facilitates the re-establishment of ones link with nature and their inner person.

Karin Arbeter