Amanda McCavour: Embroidered Spaces @ Homer Watson House & Gallery

Amanda McCavour, Floating Garden; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

I first saw Floating Garden at the 2012 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition and the setting was less than ideal. It was, in fact, a liability to the work. In the Homer Watson House and Gallery, Floating Garden sings. 

Amanda McCavour, Floating Garden; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

Amanda McCavour is a master of free-motion embroidery (hereafter FME) and installation work. Each flower module is machine-stitched with thread onto water-soluble fabric. When finished, she immerses the unit into water and the background fabric dissolves. She can opt to not thoroughly wash the module so that some stiffness remains.

Amanda McCavour, Floating Garden; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

I took multiple photos of Floating Garden and it was difficult to share only three. It's an engaging piece in many ways: the flowers move with the air currents and the mass of threads from which the flowers are suspended are beautiful in their own way.

Amanda McCavour, Stand-In for Home; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

Stand-In for Home worked well installed next to the old fireplace. It's like a ghostly apparition of what once furnished the space.

Amanda McCavour, Stand-In for Home; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

McCavour's three dimensional FME drawings cast exquisite shadows. Note the yellow roses wallpaper and the electrical outlet.

Amanda McCavour, Stand-In for Home; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

Amanda McCavour's Embroidered Spaces at Homer Watson House & Gallery ran from May 9th to June 14, 2015.