Saturday Daydreaming: Felicity Mountfort

I thought I mentioned "Rebus", the Visual Arts student exhibition at The Suter , and Felicity Mountfort, at the end of last year, but cannot locate the post, so perhaps I was waiting for these photos. I had met Felicity a couple of times before, but I was totally floored by her work at Rebus.

©John-Paul Pouchin
©John-Paul Pouchin
©John-Paul Pouchin
©John-Paul Pouchin
©John-Paul Pouchin
©John-Paul Pouchin©John-Paul Pouchin

Not only were her jackets exquisitely crafted, but the details such as the tags and how the jackets were hung were dream-like. I was most tempted to photograph against gallery rules! If she has a solo exhibition, and I'm sure she will at some stage, she will create a microcosm of Felicity-ness. I can't wait.

This is an excerpt from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology press release prior to the exhibition:

NMIT Arts Tutor Catharine Hodson says the name was chosen because it means a representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols, often presented as a puzzle.

“The exhibition explores questions about collective and personal history, identity, expression and perception through the language of art and design. The Rebus exhibition presents a range of disciplines including; graphic design, eco dyeing, painting, sculpture, drawing, costume design, clothing design and video. This dynamic show is the culmination of three years of study for the graduates and is a fantastic opportunity for the public to see the artistic talent of their local tertiary provider,” she says.

Final year student and media co-ordinator for the exhibition Ali McIntyre has a work entitled ’La Troupe’ in the show. It explores the juxtaposition of historical and contemporary fashion, inspired by the works of Toulouse-Lautrec. An installation of digital prints and five circus-cabaret characters evoke the 19th C. world of Bohemian France.

“The Rebus exhibition in the Suter, for me, is the pinnacle of the BVAD degree. The juxtaposition of such a diverse range of media types and conceptual foci, are anchored by the exhibitor’s dedication to their practices," says Ali McIntyre.

"Living in the UK when I first applied for the degree, I was attracted to the NMIT Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design by the diversity of courses offered. The quality of teaching and opportunities to explore many avenues of both traditional and contemporary art design practices, are second to none.”

The artists and designers in the show are: Alice McIntyre, Susie Reid, Hester Janssen, Felicity Mountfort, Gordon D’Ath, Tracy Duncan, Doti Young, Stephanie Mackay, Sandra Mead, Helen Grant, Sue Hayde, Lisa White, Sandy Paterson, Max Van Susteren, Maree Corrin, Eric Huckle and Rebecca Davies

Here are short profiles on five of the artists and their Rebus works: ...

Felicity Mountfort
From: Rotorua

Media type and mode of exploration: Working in garment construction and natural dying, with design fundamentals based on the considerations of sustainability.

5 key words that describe your art / design work for the Suter?: One-off reversible jackets contrast natural with synthetic dye processes.

Rebus Work in the artists words: “I am a designer/maker. The foundations of my work are based within sustainability working with textiles and the process of natural dying. I enjoy the process of production, seeing a project start from a flat length of fabric to a finished wearable item. Grown Sewn is a: designed, drafted, constructed, dyed and stitched process to produce this range of un-reproducible reversible jackets. The woolen fabric contrasts natural with synthetic dyes, hybridising industrial and domestic. The impacts of the textiles industry on the environment is one of the biggest contributors of pollution and waste in the world: The cultivation of fibers to produce, manufacture cloth and clothing, The dye and finishing processes, impact water ways and land in the subsequent disposal of textiles to landfill. In the true sense of the word sustainability is unachievable therefore I have considered the elements: production, environmental impact, and functionality of design in my work.”

Hope to see lots more of your work, Felicity.