Helen Hughes – Octarine Women Artists' Collective

Our members have been very busy! First of all, don’t miss the opening of the latest show by Connections Fibre Artists, titled Celebrating the Group of Seven, which includes work by our own Helen Hughes. It runs from April 5 to June 8 at Wellington County Museum, and the opening reception is on Friday April 4th, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Show poster

If you want to see a spectacular Tom Thomson type work in textile, don’t miss this piece by Helen. The Museum charges a nominal entrance fee during regular daily open hours, but no fee is charged the evening of the opening. So that’s a good time to go!

Another show, which involves work by Helen, Deb and Leslie, will open this week of March 24th, at the Boathouse on Gordon St in Guelph, and it will be up until the first week of June. This show represents current art of the Studio Tour membership.

Just longing for Spring? Seen any robins? Well, they’re coming! Here is a lovely watercolour by Kim Johnston, which is currently included in her solo show in the main lobby of Groves Memorial Hospital, Fergus, as part of Art in Public Places (organized by the Elora Arts Council.) Kim’s work will be there until the end of April.

Watch this space!

Bio:

Helen Hughes, a textile artist living in Guelph, studied Fine Art at the University of Guelph, graduating in 1978 with a B.A. in Fine Art and Music. Studies continued through a summer semester in New York with workshops and hands-on experience with sculpture and large public installations of art. Painting, printmaking and sculpture have shaped her artistic path, but textiles have become her defining medium for over 35 years. Helen has been exhibiting her work regularly in galleries and museums, both locally and nationally since 1978 in both invitational and juried shows. She furthers her artistic expansion through workshops with many internationally acclaimed textile artists from Canada, Europe, United States, England, South Africa, Japan and Scandinavia. Her work is in private collections around the world and in public buildings in Ontario.

Helen presents lectures on Contemporary Fibre Art, and workshops to guilds, groups, schools and through the Art Workshops in Elora. She operates her business ‘Silver Needle Designs’ from her home studio and produces original textile compositions using primarily silk and her hand–dyed textiles of linen, cotton and wool. Her art has been featured in Canadian and international publications.

Helen is a member of the Guelph Studio Tour and Connections Fibre Artists, an international group.

She is an active volunteer with the Huntington Society of Canada, which is a major part of the fabric of her life.

Artist Statement: Textiles, as an artistic medium, have allowed me to give the best expression of my personal vision. Inspiration and motivation come from a vast array of sources. Pushing new techniques and exploring surface design help me translate my view of the world into cloth. A continued fascination with colour and pattern informs my work, and my goal is to nourish spirit, eye and mind in equal measure. Passion drives me forward as I celebrate a life in textiles.

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WELCOME HELEN HUGHES