Susan Purney Mark
Pender Island, BC
Award winning textile artist, Susan Purney Mark, lives on Pender Island BC, the traditional lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Tsawout peoples.
MessageCollection: Casco Vello - villages of northen Spain
Casco Vello, or "old villages" in Galego, the language of northwestern Spain, is the subject of my new series of collages in fabric and paint. In April and May of 2023, I spent several weeks as a host in a small hostel, where I had the opportunity to meet and welcome pilgrims on the Camino Frances. During this time, I was able to dedicate time to sketching and painting various reference pieces, which I later incorporated into my collages.
Using monoprinting on fabric and paper, I capture the rich patina of rust, weathered paint, and aged timbers in the old towns and villages of northern Spain. This technique conveys the textures and marks that evoke the character of these ancient structures. I prefer working with vintage fabrics and repurposed papers, which carry traces of their past, adding layers of history to my art. Additionally, I incorporate stitching to depict the windows of tall buildings, providing a tactile dimension to my pieces.
The individual pieces in each collage have been carefully hand cut, and laid out in a planned design before adhering to the painted surface of watercolour paper. I aim for an abstract appearance with elongated squares and rectangles as well as relaxed arch shapes which convey a casual layering of time-worn architecture.
All text and images are the property of Susan Purney Mark
Powered by Artwork Archive