Kelly Doust introduces readers to her wonderful world of reviving and customising vintage pieces, while bringing a modern and unique twist to wearing vintage clothes – Dita Von Teese
Artist Cayce Zavaglia
'Sophie' by Cayce Zavaglia
I really feel as though the line between art and craft is becoming more blurred than ever. You might remember the Vicious Threads workshop I went to last year at the MCA, during the Louisa Bufardeci & Zon Ito exhibition. It struck me then, as it does now, how much craft skills are gaining recognition in art circles, and how craft has also crossed over into the field of high design. Especially when I see something like these portraits by Cayce Zavaglia.
Cayce is a mother of four who lives in St. Louis in the US. Here’s what she has to say about her pieces:
“My own love of art and craft began as a child growing up in Australia. This current series of embroidered portraits came about as I thought back on a crewel embroidery piece of a sheep station I had done as a child. I studied painting in college and graduate school, so I wanted these pieces to continue to read as paintings. Although the medium used is crewel embroidery wool, the technique borrows more from the worlds of drawing and painting. Initially, working with an established range of wool colours proved frustrating. Unlike painting, I was unable to mix the colours by hand, but over time I’ve created a system of sewing the threads in a sequence that gives the illusion of a certain colour or tone. The direction in which the threads are sewn has to mimic the way lines are layered in a drawing to give the illusion of depth, volume, and form. Over time the stitches have become tighter and more complex, but ultimately more evocative of flesh, hair, and cloth. My work unabashedly nods its head to the tradition of tapestry and my own love of craft. Using wool and embroidery in my work has allowed me to propose a new definition for the word ‘painting’.”
Feel free to leave a comment – I think they’re amazing. For more of Cayce’s work, visit her gallery online.
'Sophie' detail by Cayce Zavaglia
'Martina' by Cayce Zavaglia
'Dad' by Cayce Zavaglia
'Mum' by Cayce Zavaglia
“Sophie” 2007
14″ x 35″
14″ x 35″
“Martina” 2009
17″ x 40″
“Dad” 2007
14″ x 39″
“Mum” 2001
14″ x 21″
All hand embroidery: crewel wool and acrylic on canvas
Call it art or call it craft, these works are meticulous in every detail and throbbing with life. Totally intrigued, once the viewer is up close and personal, it is a startling discovery to find the intricate weaving of stitch and yarn have produced such beauty and perfect imagery. The only fault I can find is that Cayce has never used me as a model!
For more of Cayce’s work, visit her gallery online: http://www.caycezavaglia.com
I am stunned and delighted to discover your portraits. I do want to know more. When my career in tapestry began thirty years ago, I use needle point to create portraits. I then became a tapestry weaver and thrived in guilds, and American Tapestry Alliance. I have one more wish and that is to try the method you use for portraiture. Is there a book or lessons I could purchase to get the benefit of your experience? I have aged–over 80 now–and weaving on a vertical tapestry loom is too taxing. I want to learn the technique(S) you use for my last years. Can you give me some pointers about the linen and threads you use and the methods for making the pictures so lifelike? An admirer!!! Jeanne Walker. 890 E. Harrison Ave. #16 Pomona, CA 91767.