FIBRANT Art Group celebrates 15 years of community and creativity with the Gather exhibition at Ellenbrook Arts.

The artworks exhibited in Gather range from large, colourful wall hangings to intricate sculptures, reflecting the diversity of their artists.
Echo News talked to three of the group’s members about the group and its collective work: Joyce Tasma who works in mixed media, utilising pieces of the environment she collects on her many travels and adventures, from bushwalks close to home to trips to Mauritius with family, Ayako Goto who uses her family’s kimono silk to create fibre-fused pieces, adding in found objects ranging from flower seeds to fish scales, and Bec Suardana whose work is in felting and mixed media, using colour and form to create tangible pieces.

These three women are just a taste of the diversity of the Fibrant group, which Joyce said has hosted a range of backgrounds, interests and abilities since its inception 15 years ago.

“We really reflect the population of Perth, how diverse that population is, and how people’s different backgrounds can impact their art,” she said.

“This group is unique in that we don’t focus on one medium, so everyone can bring something different, and there’s no competition but everyone can get so many new perspectives on their work.”

Bec said the group felt like a true community, and the expertise and vast knowledge of the women in the group was invaluable.

“If you’re stuck on something, you can ask the group, and everyone will have a different solution for you. The weaver might suggest something, the sculptor might suggest something else. And so, you’ve got all these different ways of looking at your art that you wouldn’t have considered yourself,” she said.

Fibrant comes together weekly to socialise and work on their respective art pieces.

Joyce said this time is special for the women, many of whom have jobs and families, to find their peace and express themselves.

“We really get to let go of all other obligations for a few hours when we come to art group,” she said.

“It’s time for ourselves and our art, and it’s great to have a community to share it with.”

The group was first based in a heritage-listed house in Bassendean, which they met and worked in for 10 years.

They have now moved to Bayswater and continue to provide a community and creative space for older female artists to share their voices and stories, however Joyce said the group would be eager to expand their membership to a younger demographic.

“We would love to include younger artists in our group, and we would be excited to see what they bring to it,” she said.

“Membership is also very laid-back. We come when we can, or when we want to. There is no pressure to be at every weekly meeting or to sign up for a whole year of membership. We just want women to come and find a place where they can practice their art and meet a new community.”

Artists will be running talks and demonstrations of their creative processes in the gallery every weekend until the exhibition closes.

The Gather exhibition will continue at Ellenbrook Arts until October 26 and is free to enter.