Weaving Eucalypts Project

From Tuesday, 19 December until Sunday, 4 February 2024

This collaborative project by Australian weaver Liz Williamson explores local colour, cultural connections, and shared weaving traditions. It extends from Williamson’s research into experiments with Australian natural dye plants and unique colours extracted from locally sourced plants. The project features 100 panels woven by Williamson with fabric dyed by 60 collaborators with over 50 eucalypts species identified and sourced from over 50 locations.

In 2020, Williamson began inviting colleagues in Australia and India to colour silk fabric with eucalyptus leaves collected locally. Once received in her studio, the fabric was stripped and woven into panels referencing the traditions of woven rag rugs and ‘making do’ where ‘new’ items are made from old or readily available materials. In this project, the fabric is new while the colour is readily available in eucalyptus leaves, bark, and twigs. The woven panels reflect place and location while the process has created a unique community of practitioners.

Since 2021, the project has expanded to connect with more colleagues in Australia and India as well as other countries touched by the Indian Ocean – Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Thailand.

^{Image at top: Liz Williamson, Weaving Eucalypts Project 2020-22 (detail). Silk dyed by artists in Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa with locally sourced eucalyptus leaves, bark or twigs; dyed silk handwoven as weft into a linen and cotton warp. Courtesy of the artist, Sydney. Photograph: Ian Hobbs}

Opening Night // Tuesday, 19 December 2023 at 5pm

This exhibition will be opened by Gillean Shaw, Art Curator at the University Galleries. Proudly supported by Lisa McGuigan Wines.

This is a free event however bookings are essential.

RSVP HERE 

Exhibition Times

Tuesday to Friday // 9am - 4.30pm
Saturday and Sunday // 10am - 2.30pm

Closed from 12pm on Friday, 22 December until 9am Tuesday, 9 January 2024.

Artist

Liz Williamson is a weaver and academic who has been creating since the late 1970’s and is still fascinated with the process and potential of interlacing two sets of threads on her loom. At the heart of her weaving is an interest in innovative, experimental, and unusual designs created by interlacing warp and weft.

Her national and international profile includes her practise, teaching, curating, mentoring and since 2001, engaging with artisan’s groups in Asian and from 2012 organizing Cultural Textiles courses (to 2020) and tours in India. She is the recipient of numerous grants and awards and has undertaken several research residencies.

Liz has 38 years exhibiting nationally and internationally, and her work is held in major public collections in Australia including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia and the Museum of Applied Arts & Science in Sydney with several international museum acquisitions. 

Her wearable pieces are treasured, loved and worn by thousands.

Williamson has been involved in tertiary education for over 35 years combining her teaching with research and art practice. In 1997 she established textiles at the College of Fine Arts on the UNSW Paddington campus and was Head of the Design School from 2008 to 2013. She taught until 2020 and from 2021 continues with postgraduate research candidates as Honorary Associate Professor at the School of Art & Design, UNSW.

Liz acknowledges the Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora nation as the original owners of the land where she lives and works in the Inner West of Sydney and pays her respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and feels very privileged to live in a country with a strong Indigenous fibre art tradition.

When