Louise Mabbs
"Jacob's Ladder"
55 cm x 87.5 cm x 6.5 cm, 2005
"Fibonacci Rays"
91.5 cm x 91.5 cm, Made in 2004 for an exhibition 'New International Quilts', Shipley
Art Gallery, Gateshead.
"Fibonacci Rings"
91.5 cm x 91.5 cm, Made in 2004 for an exhibition 'New International Quilts',
Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead.
"Toblercone Rays"
91.5 cm x 91.5 cm, Made in 2004 for an exhibition 'New International Quilts',
Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead.
"Toblercone Rings"
91.5 cm x 91.5 cm, Made in 2004 for an exhibition 'New International Quilts',
Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead.
Louise Mabbs
Background:
Derbyshire - as child, cadging fabrics from my mother's stash.
1982-5, Winchester - train in weave/knit, discover quilts. Tutor Hilary Chetwynd
shows me double-cloth structures, which I put into quilted wallhangings. Frequently
working with colour sequences.
1986, Derbyshire - self-employed; furnishings, quilts, private teaching.
Asked to submit to Mathematical Magic exhibition. Remember colouring times tables in maths.
"Decimal Rainbows" & "Prime Factors" initiate mathematical colouring sequences (book 3?)
1991, Manchester - commissions (Christian themes), theological training, adult education teaching.
1995, London - work becoming more Mathematical
2002, meet John Sharp, begin collaborating
1998 - 2003, City & Guilds embroidery course (Windsor) Gain confidence with organic subjects, but return to geometrics
2003, approached by editor, John & I discuss a 'Fibonacci Art' book. Head editor
not keen - diverted to fabric origami book, I invite Wendy Lowes to co-author. Have 19 year old 'Origami Quilt' - need novel
ideas. Rediscover tiny paper plaits in my 'collectings'; structures first made at Junior School. Commissioned, draw an
impression, certain I will work out how to construct it! Jacob's Ladder is hardest of all the projects I designed.
Motivation:
I am very driven in my work & have far more ideas than I can fulfil. I continue to promote
textiles as a valid art form. My work is becoming very sculptural
Inspiration:
Colour, optical illusions - Escher, Vasarely, Riley, Agam; 3d structures - origami,
sculpture; mathematical patterns; ethnic textiles.
louise.mabbs.textiles@btinternet.com
www.louisemabbs.co.uk