A Journey of Transformation and Reflection in Tasmania
I came across this line that I wrote a few years ago when things were tough in my world: "A lake that listens to my thoughts." It was a time of turmoil and uncertainty, where the serene image of a lake offered a sense of solace and refuge, even if only in my mind.
A lot has changed since then, and recently, I embarked on a transformative journey with two dear friends to Tasmania and Bruny Island. This trip, which we had been planning for about three years, was more than just a 'get-away'; it was a pilgrimage of sorts, a chance to reconnect with nature, with each other, and with our own inner selves.
The anticipation built up over the years was finally realized when we boarded the ferry to Bruny Island. The moment we set foot on its rugged shores, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. The island's untouched beauty, with its dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and lush rainforests, seemed to whisper the secrets of the ages.
Every morning began with the symphony of birds singing in harmony with the gentle rustling of leaves. We would sit by the lake, the same one that now seemed to echo back my once-distant thoughts. Here, time appeared to stand still, and the worries of the past seemed to dissolve into the mist that rose from the water's surface.
Our days were filled with explorations, both within and without. We hiked through the dense forests, marvelled at the diverse wildlife, and stood in awe of the breathtaking vistas that spread out before us. Each step we took seemed to bring us closer to a deeper understanding of the world and our place in it.
In the evenings, we gathered around a shared meal, sharing stories, laughter, and sometimes, silent contemplation. It was during these moments that I realized the profound change that had taken place within me. The journey was not just about the physical destination; it was about the transformation of my spirit.

​The change I am referring to is the shift in my process to bring great artists to share their wonderful thoughts and knowledge in beautiful settings and wonderful company. This trip to Tasmania and Bruny Island has inspired me to create more opportunities for artists to find their 'lake'—a place where they can listen to their thoughts, find inspiration, and share their creative visions with the world.
As I reflect on our time on Bruny Island, I am reminded of the importance of connection—connection to nature, to each other, and to ourselves. This trip has reaffirmed my belief in the power of these connections to heal, inspire, and transform.
Our journey may have come to an end, but the impact it has had on my life and my work will continue to resonate for years to come. The lake that once listened to my thoughts has now become a symbol of hope, renewal, and endless possibilities.
I look forward to the future with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. There are many more lakes to discover, many more thoughts to share, and many more connections to be made. And I am grateful for the journey that has brought me here, to this moment, where the lake that listens to my thoughts continues to inspire and guide me.

As a self-proclaimed non-conformist, I have embraced a mindset that challenges traditional norms and pushes the boundaries of artistic expression and endeavours.
Over time, I have become increasingly radical in my approach, unafraid to explore uncharted territories and defy expectations.

I possess the courage to push both personal, technical, and business boundaries in my art practise.
I am not satisfied with staying within the confines of what is familiar or comfortable.
I actively seek out new areas to explore, constantly pushing the limits of my creativity and skill. This drive to constantly innovate and experiment is fuelled by my insatiable curiosity and desire to expand the possibilities of my art and my business.

The only limitation to my search for new horizons is the rate at which I can move towards them.
This encompasses both the physical and metaphorical movement towards unexplored territories.
On one hand, there are practical constraints such as time, resources, and opportunities that may hinder my ability to fully realize my artistic and business vision.
On the other hand, there is also the inner journey of personal and spiritual growth that influences the pace of this exploration.

​In my pursuit of new horizons, I am not only pushing the boundaries of my craft but also seeking to expand my own understanding of the world and my place within it.
This holistic approach to creativity encompasses both the professional and spiritual aspects of my life.
By intertwining these two realms, I am able to infuse my art with a deeper sense of meaning and purpose, transcending mere technical proficiency and tapping into the profound depths of human experience.
​
My non-conformist nature and radical approach to my art and my business have propelled me to push personal and technical boundaries.
I possess the courage to explore new areas and am limited only by the rate at which I can move towards new horizons, both in terms of physical exploration and personal growth.
By embracing this mindset, I continue to challenge conventions, expand my artistic horizons, and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and new business models.

May these words propel you onto your artistic and personal endeavours during 2024 and beyond.
​
Glenys Mann.

I have always found it interesting when other artists say to me “I just love going on an artist retreat… it gives me time to do more creative work”.
I have only done one small artistic retreat, in that I was alone on a floating studio near the edge of Lake Tyres in East Gippsland.
​This retreat is owned and managed by FLOAT.

​Having an artistic space is like having a blank canvas waiting to be filled with your imagination. It's a place where you can let your creativity run wild and explore the depths of your artistic potential.
​When you have a dedicated space for your art, be it at the edge of your dining room table or purpose built structure, it becomes a haven where you can escape the noise of the world and fully immerse yourself.

Josephine Jakobi's BUNGALOOK STUDIO... 

In this space, you have the freedom to create without judgment or expectation.
​It's a place where you can let go of any self-doubt or fear and simply allow yourself to be in the moment.

A place to surround yourself with inspiration.
​Fill it with objects, images, and artwork that resonate with your creative vision. Curate a collection of books, magazines, or online resources that ignite your imagination and spark new ideas.

​When you are in that space, you create a physical and mental boundary that signals to your brain that it's time to focus on your art.
It becomes a place where you can fully immerse yourself in your creative process without distractions or interruptions.
​This environment allows you to enter a state of flow, where ideas flow freely and inspiration strikes more easily.

​​I am rambling on here, thinking that I have only been on one “residency”…. 

Wait!!!! As I am writing this… I am sitting in one of the most “artistic environments” on this earth…. INDIA.
​

​This is not the first time I have had an artistic retreat here…
For the past 8 years, any time between 4 weeks and 3 months, I immerse myself into this culture and the environment and feel like I sink into a silken mattress that comforts and nurtures my every artistic being….
​Sounds weird, but I cannot think of another way to describe this ‘luxury’ that I give myself each year.
​

It is not the colours that the women wear that excite me….
​Well, they do excite me a lot,.......   but it is the environment…
this ‘barren’ land that is teaming with life and emotions, a language that is
​non-comprehensible to me, but feel that I know EXACTLY what it saying,
​a landscape that brings tears to my eyes every time I go ‘out there’.

​The horizon line that is as straight as a ‘die’….
​A sound that is so far beyond silence that you can feel it.
Marks on the land that tells you that you are not alone… and the sky… I thought that I had a huge sky when I look out of my cottage window at home, but compared to where I am now, that sky at home is only the size of a pin-prick.

​​A constellation that is foreign to me…. A very small milky way….
A moon on the rise that fills the sky…. and no Southern Cross to define where I am really from.
​

So, if you have an artistic space somewhere on this planet, use it to its fullest potential.
​Show up regularly, even if it's just for a few minutes each day. 

​Dedicate yourself to the practice of your art, and trust that something remarkable will eventually happen. Whether it's a breakthrough in your technique, a new perspective on your work, or a moment of pure creative bliss, your artistic space holds the potential for endless possibilities.

​No matter where it is….
The kitchen table…
Little Rann of Kutch…
Purpose built studio…

Create your Possibilities....
Glenys Mann
November 2023

Clicking on the image takes you to a video to hear what other artists think about attending a Masterclass.

Why attend a workshop that is ‘branded’ by the word “masterclass” at a Fibre Arts event?

Why not, is what I would ask…

A masterclass is a form of teaching in which an expert or a master in a particular field shares their knowledge, skills, and experiences with a group of students. It is typically a highly specialized workshop that allows artists to interact and learn directly from someone who is highly skilled or accomplished in their respective field.
 
In a fibre/textile masterclass, the focus is often on demonstrating and practicing advanced techniques, discussing advanced concepts, and providing valuable insights that go beyond what is usually taught in regular courses or workshops. Its intention is to push the boundaries of the artists to a new level of awareness.
 
The primary goal of a masterclass is to inspire, mentor, and guide students to hone their skills and reach a higher level of proficiency in their area of interest. It offers a unique opportunity to learn from the best in the field and gain extensive knowledge about specific techniques or approaches that can help participants excel in their own endeavours.
 
After teaching many Masterclasses, I find myself becoming even more radical with my work - pushing both personal and technical boundaries - allowing time to respond ‘to’ the medium, rather than force it to fit to some preconceived plan – I have been mentoring artists for more than 30 years, teaching Masterclasses throughout Australia and Internationally.
​
The objects that I make in cloth speak, shout, whisper, and breathe in a language of silence. Their presence is tangible. Using found cloth because it has a powerful human presence and has the capacity to express humanity, human endeavor and emotion. Found cloth holds within itself the internal landscape of all rites of passage, for at first and last we are bound by its weave.
It is time for you to ‘test the water’ and attend a masterclass that will push your boundaries.
Glenys Mann

“YUGEN” GLENYS MANN 
​EAST GIPPSLAND ART GALLERY, BAIRNSDALE
5 MAY – 12 JUNE 2023
 
YUGEN A profound awareness of the universe that triggers an emotional response too deep and mysterious for words.  
 
The exact translation of the word depends on the context. Yūgen is not an allusion to another world. It is about this world, this experience…
I had no idea about the ‘aesthetics’ of this word, until I read more about the context.
I never knew why, when out in the deep desert of the Rann in NW India, on a mountain on the South Island of NZ, standing in my back yard and feeling the fog settle on my face..
To watch the sun, sink behind a straight horizon. To wander on in a huge forest without thought of return. To stand upon the shore and gaze after a bird that disappears into the distance.
 
Why did the tears flow…
Why was it that I could not stop this overwhelming amazing emotion that grips me every time I am faced with some extraordinary beauty that I do not understand.

​Just how do you put this into your art practice.
I had to think about all of this as I started to work on the next exhibition that I had planned in April 2020 to have in May 2023.
 
This thought sat with me as we all grappled with a pandemic and were otherwise distracted… but still… the power of Yugen was beating at me to try and put this into my work.
 
I went into the bush near my home, after a massive storm had blown over many trees, just the sight of these large giants laying on there side was sad enough but what stirred me more was the fact that they had stood longer than I had been on this earth and suddenly did not have the strength to stand any longer.

​I took all of this to heart and decided to wrap these large giants with soft bandage like gauze to see if there was a way to extract from their bodies some indication that they had not stood for this long without a purpose.
 
Gently folding the cloth around their form, I left them to see if there was anything that they could give to set my mind into making pieces for this exhibition.
They laid wrapped from July 2021 – late January 2023… the cloth a little worse for wear as the weather battered them as they lay protecting their giant.

​What was left was an extraordinary cloth, unique in its own right and a gift from the fallen tree for me to gather and see how I can make these pieces exude the feeling that is Yugen… to bring the viewer into its realm by quietly taking time to sit and absorb these huge pieces of mended, stained, torn, dirty cloth. To be in the moment by just sitting and putting yourself into the stillness that brings all emotions to the surface.
 
It is not wrong that we cry. It is like a balm to the soul, helps with the healing or putting us in a place that we could find very confronting but knowing that the emotions are for something other than sadness.
Nature is seen as a dynamic whole that is to be admired and appreciated.
 
This appreciation of nature has been fundamental to my art aesthetic and other cultural elements for as long as I have been making.
But never on the level that it is at the moment, that brings with it a powerful reaction within my soul and my emotions.

​Yugen: A profound awareness of the universe that triggers an emotional response too deep and mysterious for words.
Yugen is at the core of the appreciation of beauty and art. It values the power to evoke, rather than the ability to state directly.
The principle of Yugen shows that real beauty exists when, through its suggestiveness, only a few words, or few stitches can suggest what has not been said or shown, and hence awaken many inner thoughts and feelings.
​Glenys Mann 2023

Daniel Jenkins @ Yugen his opening address…
Glenys writes, YUGEN is a profound awareness of the universe that triggers an emotional response too deep and mysterious for words.
Yet we use words to define the essence of the undefinable. As artists we know this inherently. Yet still we are asked and expected to make words for the wordless.

We are expected to define an emotion when it is still an infant idea, somehow make a feeling tangible. We act in our studios on the spur of the moment and turn away silently and let the creative process begin.
‘what are you going to make next?’ they ask… and then the idea dissipates because we’re expected to put parameters on a thought. Glenys appears to show that the thought comes back a bit later, when no one’s asking and she’s not necessarily looking,

As she explains it is expected that a fallen tree wanted to be draped. So it was. And she waited. It was a controlled wait, patient, excited and undefined.
In our respective art practices few of us know what is next, what to expect. Too many words can be the enemy in the creative process. The words can come later.

Glenys and I sat one day at the ‘gingerbread house’ over a cuppa that she demanded. I’m a terrible host, I rarely get visitors. The idea was to come up with nice things to say tonight. We hardly touched on the initial intent of the meeting and just went off on our respective tangents of story telling as we have often done.
I had a notebook that I felt was overly conspicuous, like I knew what I was doing. Or had to do for tonight. No idea. But in our ebb and flow of on-topic, odd topic, l I managed to write down a few words that I thought would be pertinent, if not definitive…. Or at least expected.

Lockdown… Every artist’s utopic friend to one degree or another. A good time to think guilt free, like we were actually working. Doodle with a passion while no one’s looking.
“four inch nails” a kind a measuring stick as a solution.

Arsenic… it is almost impossible to make art without venturing into some degree of danger. In our studio we have cyanide and lead acetate. Many years ago a colleague spoke at a danger-free conference of artists in Kyoto and said, in her medium safety was an intentional coincidence. That we sometimes have to bleed for our art.

The stories we could tell…..

What is difficult for some can be easy for artists and what is hard for artists is almost inexplicable for others not in the game.
Artist understands things… we see the unseen…
Glenys see an essence.

Deep thinking is a silent practice. Don’t just relate, be taken. But there is no need to be profound… there is always, however, the need to provoke… the need to evoke…
It is always important to place the physicality of the art in comparison to the essence of the presence.
In this exhibition Glenys has put it to you to look into the works…
not just at them…
and listen to what these works have to say.
​
Daniel Jenkins

​“What Took You So Long?”
John Roedel
 
my brain and
heart divorced
 
a decade ago
 
over who was
to blame about
how big of a mess
I have become
 
eventually,
they couldn't be
in the same room
with each other
 
now my head and heart
share custody of me
 
I stay with my brain
during the week
 
and my heart
gets me on weekends
 
they never speak to one another
- instead, they give me
the same note to pass
to each other every week
 
and their notes they
send to one another always
says the same thing:
 
"This is all your fault"
 
on Sundays
my heart complains
about how my
head has let me down
in the past
 
and on Wednesday
my head lists all
of the times my
heart has screwed
things up for me
in the future

they blame each
other for the
state of my life
 
there's been a lot
of yelling - and crying
 
so,
 
lately, I've been
spending a lot of
time with my gut
 
who serves as my
unofficial therapist
 
most nights, I sneak out of the
window in my ribcage
 
and slide down my spine
and collapse on my
gut's plush leather chair
that's always open for me
 
~ and I just sit sit sit sit
until the sun comes up
 
last evening,
my gut asked me
if I was having a hard
time being caught
between my heart
and my head
 
I nodded
 
I said I didn't know
if I could live with
either of them anymore
 
"my heart is always sad about
something that happened yesterday
while my head is always worried
about something that may happen tomorrow,"
I lamented
 
my gut squeezed my hand
 
"I just can't live with
my mistakes of the past
or my anxiety about the future,"
I sighed
 
my gut smiled and said:
 
"in that case,
you should
go stay with your
lungs for a while,"
 
I was confused
- the look on my face gave it away
 
"if you are exhausted about
your heart's obsession with
the fixed past and your mind's focus
on the uncertain future
 
your lungs are the perfect place for you
 
there is no yesterday in your lungs
there is no tomorrow there either
 
there is only now
there is only inhale
there is only exhale
there is only this moment
 
there is only breath
 
and in that breath
you can rest while your
heart and head work
their relationship out."
 
this morning,
while my brain
was busy reading
tea leaves
 
and while my
heart was staring
at old photographs
 
I packed a little
bag and walked
to the door of
my lungs
 
before I could even knock
she opened the door
with a smile and as
a gust of air embraced me
she said
 
"what took you so long?"
 
~ john roedel
​(johnroedel.com)

These are the first words you hear me say on the new Youtube video that has just been put up on the Fibre Arts website... 
​
This beautiful video, produced by “Warm Egg Productions” came about by a chance meeting of like minds…. You know the type of meeting that stays with you for a very long time!!
Katrina Douglas, “Kat” is a remarkable and very talented young woman who has a history of creating beautiful and compelling videos.
We met in Trentham quite by chance when I was visiting my friend Carolyn Holt.
It was such a chance meeting because we saw Kat’s home grown fresh flowers in a newish gallery in the town and were smitten by what we saw.
She delivered a bunch to Carolyn’s Studio…. The rest is history…

What Kat wanted to do was to try and tell the story about Fibre Arts Australia…
now that is a very complex story and the only one to tell it was me….
It took a while to meet again, what with a pandemic getting in the way of doing almost everything, but it did happen….
This little video, gives you a very tiny glimpse into what Fibre Arts is all about…
in real life and to understand more you really do have to attend one of the many workshops that is offered.
Is this a promotional video? You betcha!
Is this a video that is trying to get you to come to an event? You betcha!
Has this video given you a little … “Hmm, I would like to know more”? Well I certainly hope so!!
I am very thrilled that Carolyn loaned her studio so that this video could be made…
​it is in a beautiful part of the world and her collections are eclectic and many!!

If you really would love to know more and experience what Fibre Arts Australia is all about… not just the workshops but all the other things we do within our Fibre Tribe, there is so much more to find on the website!!
​
​FIBRE ARTS AUSTRALIA

FIBRE ARTS EVENTS/WORKSHOPS

Thank you,
GLENYS MANN

I know that this is a very strange image to put up at the moment…
But is a bit like gathering the washing off the line to start a-new…
Well it isn’t washing it is cloth that has been stapled to trees for the last 6 months for my new exhibition in May called… YUGEN… more about that closer to the time.

What I have been gathering is a sense of great awareness of emotional response to many things that are too deep and mysterious for words…

The International Art Textile Biennale 2023, which opened last Friday at
East Gippsland Art Gallery in Bairnsdale was one of those phenomenal emotional responses that came when I saw all the remarkable works that were selected from 10 countries, including Australia.
Standing in the gallery surrounded by such power of cloth and fibre, it moved me to tears that awakened many inner thoughts and feelings.
Then to hear the stories from the artists that were able to be at the opening event… made me much more aware that we use this medium to evoke strong emotional feelings.
These talks will be here very soon…. https://www.fibrearts.net.au/biennale.html
There is also this…. https://www.fibrearts.net.au/iatb23-directory.html all the selected works and artist statements.

There is a sense that that Fibre Arts Australia is on the right track when you read and hear from the peers of Art Textiles… like what SUE WOOD said in her opening speech about her selection of the Major Award and the feelings that she had …

It is an honour and privilege to be part of this wonderful project. Congratulations to Glenys Mann and Fibre Arts Australia for their vision in establishing the International Art Textile Biennale and to East Gippsland Art Gallery for supporting that vision. So many exciting arts initiatives originate in regional centres, perhaps because we are so willing to take risks. It is also great to see the number of venues the Biennale will travel to. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase art textiles to a broad audience.
It is a significant achievement to establish a competition and exhibition that attracts entries from across Australia and around the globe. As someone who’s been involved in the Australian textile community for a long time there’s something extremely satisfying about seeing international artists submitting and sending work to an Australian exhibition. For so long it’s been the other way around.
The artists in this show use textile materials, processes, and sensibilities to explore a range of contemporary concerns, both personal and political. The works engage with questions of social justice, environmental concerns, the challenges of living in an increasingly fractured and unstable world. Nothing is off limits. For a maker, the medium of textiles offers unlimited opportunities for expression: colour, texture, multiple ways of working. I think you can see the pleasures of making in the works around you. But there’s another reason to use the textiles. They are central to the human experience. We all experience textiles in one form or another every day of our life. This familiarity is a reason why the medium has been sidelined in the past. But it is also a strength. It means that layers of meaning can be embedded in a textile work for the discerning viewer to uncover. Textiles seduce the viewer, drawing them in and inviting them to contemplate and respond to complex and challenging ideas. And that’s what the works in this exhibition do.
Nearly 20 years ago I wrote a doctoral thesis on embroiderers in NSW in the years between 1960 and 1975. They were women interested in modern approaches to embroidery. They played a role in the development of the textile community in Australia and one of their dreams was to see textiles in general, and embroidery in particular, accepted as art. Standing here, surrounded by such varied and engaging work in an exhibition of international standing there’s no question in my mind that their dream is now a reality.

And the foreword in the catalogue by me, Glenys Mann, CEO Fibre Arts Australia

The International Art Textile Biennale 2023 seeks to exhibit the best of contemporary art textiles and this the second Biennale, reflects a wide range of works related to the textile medium. The goal of the exhibition is to include innovative work rooted primarily in textile as well as art that explores unexpected relationships between textile and other creative disciplines.
Art Textiles have been enjoying a resurgence after decades of being derided, ignored, or often referred as being ‘craft’ or ‘Women’s work’, in other words “not real art”.
The importance of textiles is being reinstating by way of incredible force and ingenuity, and an intelligent dismantling of established art world ‘rules’, Viewers will be captivated and engaged by the rhythm of the maker and excellence that is exhibited. The selected works in this biennial award pushes previously held notions of textile/fibre, opening a dialogue about what it is to be a textile artist that makes an expression and commentary on content and concept in the 21st Century.
Now textile-based art becomes a powerful and accessible medium in the examination of identity, society, and politics.  
This exhibition begins by taking textiles’ artistic legitimacy for granted, a point proven many times over throughout its long history, selecting some of the best and brightest artists working in the world today.
Fibre Arts Australia and the founder, Glenys Mann is committed to developing this significant award and with it an original vision and intentions so that Art Textile practitioners continue to expand, grow, and inspire.

​All these words may not mean much to some people, but they mean so much more to many fibre/textile artsists that struggle to be heard or shown.
Keep an eye on this page https://www.fibrearts.net.au/biennale.html for so much more …. this will be added over the next couple of weeks and I hope that you will be able to visit a gallery as it gets close to you … that list is on the Biennale page.
​
Now that I have gathered all the cloth from the trees… it is time to work on my next exhibition….
​I know it is a long blog… but OMG!!! There has been so much going on and I haven’t even told you about the Indian trip… you will have to wait, but not for long!

Thanks...
Glenys

 I came across this section of an article from the Washington Post and it touched a chord...

"Many artists have found that old age, for all its physical and emotional burdens, can be a moment of creative liberation comparable to, even superior to, anything in youth. By their 70s and 80s, their artistic judgments sharpened by a lifetime of lessons learned — and their heightened awareness of mortality a spur to productivity they could not have imagined in youth — they can operate at peak power. Better still, with the “life force” still pulsing, they can go on daring to try new things."
 
I turned 77 at Christmas time I can only concur, that this is truly one of the best times of my life... artistically and personally!
What a gift to be given this with many art thoughts and projects in my mind, the International Art Textile Biennale opening in January at East Gippsland Art Gallery and a personal exhibition in May, with huge textile works and great health. 
I have got so much more to do before I jump off this 'mortal coil'!!
​Glenys

​