Commentary by Marilyn Rea-Menzies

Working in this way also pushed my own boundaries. I have woven works and used techniques that I may never have attempted on my own, so it was a huge learning curve in that respect as well. Some of the works, most especially Angel and Fly posed a huge challenge as to how to interpret the design and still keep the integrity of the tapestry medium. I did this through the textures and varying setts to give a result that is not possible in any other medium. Graham's design, A Matter of Degrees, was also a challenge because I had never woven a shaped tapestry on such a scale before. The right hand section of that work was placed at an angle up the warp, which necessitated finding a way to keep it even. – TT p10

above, Marilyn Rea-Menzies, Angel and Fly, Design Concept: Julia Morison.
below, Marilyn Rea-Menzies, A Matter of Degrees, Design Concept: Graham Bennett.

I do not intend to work on any more collaborative work. The challenge now is to continue with my own and to produce work of equal quality to those in this exhibition. Working with these artists has helped to give me a high profile in New Zealand and to be taken seriously as an artist working at the top level.

It is yet to be seen how this collaborative experience will influence my own work in the future. Already you can see the differences in the two works of my own that I exhibited in “Primary Connections.” She Holds the World, woven in 2000-2001, (See Tapestry Topics Summer, 2004) has a lot of graduated colour, hatching and shading in it. The Exhibition Opening (woven in 2004) uses colour blending on the bobbin and no hatching. I really enjoyed weaving this piece as it was very quick . . . just building the shapes. – TT p10

above, Marilyn Rea-Menzies, Exhibition Opening

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