Textiles and photography come together in Maple Ridge exhibition

Yennadon multi-media artist Maureen Wouterloot is presenting her solo exhibition, “Fabric re Form,” at Maple Ridge Public Library through Sept. 30.

The free display, on the library’s main-floor north wall, includes 11 large photographs, five original apron-dresses and four tapestries. Wouterloot, an acclaimed textile designer and photographer, said the collection examines the intersection of vintage fabric-making and upcycled couture artistry.

Using 35 SLR colour celluloid film and natural light, Wouterloot photographs the microscopic topography of centuries-old weaving techniques, synthetic dyes and spun threads. The large-format prints highlight the tactile qualities, cultural and heritage value, and structural integrity of handmade textiles.

Wouterloot works from her home-based Dogwood Creek Studio. She said she wanted to shift attention from garments to the labour and artistry behind textile accessories, and to preserve the legacy of vintage and modern crafts through photography.