Material Possessions:
Janet Morton and Evelyn Roth
Belkin Satellite Gallery
Vancouver BC Jul 7-Aug 6, 2006
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Evelyn Roth, TV Trap (1973), crocheted with discarded CBC videotape [Belkin Satellite Gallery, Vancouver BC, Jul 7-Aug 6] Photo: Judo Osburn
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The textile works of Canadian artists Janet Morton and Evelyn Roth present startling similarities, despite being created in different historical eras and almost a continent apart. Both artists use knitting and crocheting to create large-scale sculptures, tent-like environments and “slipcovers”. They have knitted their way around entire pieces of furniture, a large tree and a house.
Evelyn Roth, Environment for Living (1974), 110 recycled sweaters [Belkin Satellite Gallery, Vancouver BC, July 7-Aug 6]
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For maximum visual and emotional impact, scale has been important to both women. In 1973, Roth used discarded videotape to crochet a tent-like sanctuary, while in 1999 Morton hand-stitched together more than 800 sweaters to cover a building, complete with “shutters” that opened. Morton’s Work Sock (1992) is a sixteen-foot jumbo icon of Canadiana. During the 1970s, Roth used salvaged materials to create sculptures activated by the body. The work of both artists emphasizes the time-consuming, repetitive nature of labour versus the disposability of consumer products and has a playful, acerbic visual bite not easily forgotten.
During the 1960s to 1980s, Roth was a founding member of Intermedia, a Vancouver artists’ collective, and a prominent Vancouver artist. Currently she resides in Australia. The exhibit brings the work of Toronto artist Janet Morton to the West Coast for the first time. Morton’s constructions are featured concurrently in Thrive By at the Richmond Art Gallery. Morton will present an artist talk at the Belkin Satellite on Saturday, July 8 at 2 pm.
www.belkin-gallery.ubc.ca
Mia Johnson
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Evelyn Roth, Sea Mullusc #2 (1973), video tape [Belkin Satellite Gallery, Vancouver BC, July 7-Aug 6]
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Evelyn Roth, Mullusc (1973), video tape [Belkin Satellite Gallery, Vancouver BC, July 7-Aug 6]
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Evelyn Roth, Mullusc #3 (1973), video tape [Belkin Satellite Gallery, Vancouver BC, July 7-Aug 6]
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