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‘As we age, our face shows the lines of our life; I am hoping for lots of wild wrinkles!’
Helensville-based textile artist Jo Dixey comments on her relationship with the world around her often exploring the human form with modern colour themes, subjects and processes; there is no separation from the traditions of this craft, but an extension of previous, historical boundaries. An accomplished embroiderer trained at the Royal School of Needlework in England, Dixey applies traditional embroidery techniques to imaginative and contemporary works.
‘The majority of my work is based on a thought I have about the world around me. These thoughts develop in my mind from something I have read or heard on the radio; it can be anything from how modern technology is changing how we communicate to aging. I love the human form, so this always seems to be the starting point for the design; this merges with the ideas that I am trying to say something about and often comment on issues I have with the world!’
Jo Dixey is the judge of this year’s Whakatāne Embroiderers Guild Decorative Threads ‘Challenge’ awards.
Members of the Guild created works in response to a range of themes, and these will be exhibited alongside Jo Dixey’s work in the Whakatāne Community Board Gallery.
About the artist
A freelance embroiderer and stitch artist originally from a small rural village in Suffolk, England, Jo is from a family of stitchers and from a young age was surrounded by people who played with fabric and thread. At the age of 18, Jo embarked on three years at the Royal School of Needlework, England (1991-94), learning a wide range of skills, including a long list of embroidery techniques to create new commissions, alongside the techniques needed to repair and restore antique embroideries.
Jo Dixey also taught while undertaking further study with the Royal School of Needlework, and she worked for the Embroiderers Guild in the UK for a year, promoting embroidery around the country.
Moving to New Zealand in 2000, Jo now teaches embroiderers’ guilds and small private groups a variety of embroidery and fabric techniques, as well as design based workshops around the country. She also works on commissions, which have included large altar cloths, university banners, and work for the fashion industry, while also repairing aged embroideries and exhibiting her own work bi-annually.
