In conjunction with her CCBC gallery show, we asked artist Susan Purney Mark to share with us a bit about herself, her inspiration, her audience and her other projects.
Exhibition will be on view in our gallery from March 6 – April 24, 2025.
about you
Excited by applying layers of dyes and paints to achieve interesting pattern and texture to the surface of fabric, I have been creating both contemporary wall and dimensional work since the early 1990’s. Rooted in my family’s needlework traditions, my creations have evolved from functional to pioneering, embodying experimentation, exploration, and experiential processes. Currently, my focus has involved mark making, text and narrative within a controlled colour palette, a movement towards abstraction with layers of cloth and paper including recycled and “found” surfaces. I often create layers of paint and dyes into my pieces with screen prints, stich and simple marks.
” I have moved gradually from a traditional quilting background into exploring more contemporary textiles as I found a much stronger pull and desire towards self-expression.“
audience response
I hope people might consider how there’s an immediate intimacy as the vessel trusts their hands to contain it and experience a profound timelessness, as if past and present merge in this basic human gesture of containing and protecting life – a physical meditation that connects all to the very essence of nurturing.
other work
Walking, exploring and photographing the outdoors near our home on Pender Island – visiting galleries and museums always gives me ideas for further explorations – texture, marks, textiles and colour always inspire me – keep a sketchbook and journal help to hold these memories!
bio
Susan, an award-winning textile and surface design artist, resides and works on Pender Island, British Columbia, on the traditional and unceded lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Tsawout peoples. Her island is surrounded by ocean vistas, rich forests and abundant wildlife.
Her education includes the London City & Guilds programme in textiles and surface design, as well as formal studies at the Ontario College of Art and the Vancouver Island School of Art. Over the past three decades, Susan has developed mastered a diverse range of techniques, with her primary focus on the use of cloth as a medium of artistic expression.
In addition to her artistic practice, Susan has authored several books on contemporary quilting techniques, taught extensively both nationally and internationally, and offers a series of well-regarded online workshops. She also serves as a mentor to emerging textile artists.