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C June Barnes - Living Textiles
(Which change as I find I want to say something different at each exciting corner I turn!)I believe that my purpose in life is to achieve happiness. In order to do so I need to identify that which makes me happy. I am happiest when I am stitching! I am moved by what I see and feel around me, particularly by nature and the incredible colour, pattern and texture she has to offer. When I manage to translate what I see into stitch and textiles I am lifted!
My roots lie in the traditional quiltmaking – I am essentially a quiltmaker making wall quilts. My work extends beyond traditional boundaries which I believe should not be there. I have learnt to work to please myself - not others. We do not need to stand in judgment over another's work. We all have our likes and dislikes - we do not have the right to condemn. We need to enjoy!
Our pursuit of happiness compels us to improve. We seek to get richer, have a more perfect body, become powerful or influential, and in so doing hope to achieve happiness. All too often we achieve these goals only to discover that happiness still eludes us, and we set new goals to conquer in order to pursue this elusive happiness. Maybe we are misguided as to what constitutes happiness, and spend our lives looking in the wrong place!
I try to promote this idea of achieving happiness through my work and in my teaching – encouraging people to please themselves, to enjoy the process
I hope that people will be conscious of the fact that this applies not only to what they do with cloth, stitch and thread, but to all areas of their lives. I promote mindfulness, awareness and the simple pleasure of creativity.
After the numerous terrible events which have taken place in the world I have struggled to justify my work which seems to be such a frivolous indulgence. I can only offer thanks for my good fortune and hope that through my own pursuit of happiness I can promote the same in others.
As textile artists we need to build a tool box of techniques which can be used to translate inspiration into cloth. My workshops are based on developing techniques and encouraging freedom of choice. I am delighted when students learn techniques which they use in their own way – translating original ideas into textile works of art. I enjoy sharing a sense of adventure and excitement with students as they explore textiles and stitch, encouraging them to be mindful of the enjoyment to be had through the process!
I have learnt to work to please myself - not others, although it is pleasing when others like what I do. We do not need to stand in judgment over another's work. We all have our likes and dislikes - we do not have the right to condemn.
Competition produces winners and losers - neither are desirable.
Keywords - Live and let live! Why not? What if? Try it and see!
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