Please follow Instagram @melanie_olde for current work and research.
Artist Statement
My weaving is art, design, industrial, technical and innovative. I question, test and push to discover what is possible with woven cloth.
My professional weaving experience is in business, research, teaching and exhibiting nationally and internationally, continually driven by curiosity and new learning. My work biomimeticly explores mathematical geometries, patterns and algorithms found in nature, asking how these properties can create life-like behaviour in 3D woven systems. My ease of thinking of cloth in 3-dimensions combined with my proven high level of knowledge in woven structure, ensures my research leads to innovative exploration and design.
I use weaving’s unique thread control and integration properties to explore 3D capabilities, including multi-layered surfaces and interlocking layers. On the loom, I can interlock, layer, fold, merge, morph and expand layers of threads, exploiting the design potential in the depth of woven cloth as well as the surface. I feel elated to push boundaries of what is possible to weave, to acknowledge the potential of innovative cloth-making systems, and to create an unexpected element.
I work on an AVL 24 shaft CompuDobby Loom in my Canberra, Australia studio, and was able to experiment with mechanical and computerised jacquard systems at Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio in Florence, Italy in 1996 and 2012.
Artist Statement
My weaving is art, design, industrial, technical and innovative. I question, test and push to discover what is possible with woven cloth.
My professional weaving experience is in business, research, teaching and exhibiting nationally and internationally, continually driven by curiosity and new learning. My work biomimeticly explores mathematical geometries, patterns and algorithms found in nature, asking how these properties can create life-like behaviour in 3D woven systems. My ease of thinking of cloth in 3-dimensions combined with my proven high level of knowledge in woven structure, ensures my research leads to innovative exploration and design.
I use weaving’s unique thread control and integration properties to explore 3D capabilities, including multi-layered surfaces and interlocking layers. On the loom, I can interlock, layer, fold, merge, morph and expand layers of threads, exploiting the design potential in the depth of woven cloth as well as the surface. I feel elated to push boundaries of what is possible to weave, to acknowledge the potential of innovative cloth-making systems, and to create an unexpected element.
I work on an AVL 24 shaft CompuDobby Loom in my Canberra, Australia studio, and was able to experiment with mechanical and computerised jacquard systems at Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio in Florence, Italy in 1996 and 2012.
Stomata, 2012
Teaching
My teaching philosophy is based on learning the individual's needs, expectations and directions. I like to be a mentor, enthuser and tweaker. I love helping people find their own learning and creative direction.
My classes and workshops include sessional university, beginners techniques to advance structure, design and concept.
Background
My love of weaving, especially industrial textiles, has been strongly influenced by both of my parents. I grew up in my mother's retail textile business and later her yarn spinning factory, and was introduced to science and engineering principles from my design engineer father. My mother first introduced me to weaving and I embellished that foundation with my own curiosity based learning and a jacquard course in Italy at Fondazione Lisio at age 18. A few years later I studied at Australian National University in the Textile Workshop and later received my BA with 1st class honors. From there I won a residency at Sturt Craft Centre in Mittagong, Australia where I stayed for the next 8 years in the Weaving Workshop. After relocating back to Canberra in 2012, I have been concentrating on developing my research, production and exhibtion work. In 2020 I began my Masters in Contemporary Practices in Art and Design at the Australian National University.
Abbreviated CV
Accredited Professional Member of Craft ACT.
Exhibitions
2022 Door to Door, Berlin, Germany (from September)
2022 Complexity 2022: Innovations in Weaving (juried), Tennessee, USA
2022 Bridges Exhibition of Mathematical Art (juried), Bridges Aalto 2022, Helsinki, Finland
2021 Craft ACT: 2021 Annual Members exhibtion, Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT
2021 Cartography of Cloth, (juried), Canberra, ACT
2021 Door to Door, Melbourne, VIC
2020 Pushing the Limits, (selected), France, online https://oliviermasson.art/SWE/SWE.html
2020 c/o Craft ACT: 2020 Annual Members exhibition, Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT
2020 Complexity 2020, (Juried) USA, online
2019/20 Miniartextil, (Juried; international travelling exhibition) Art&Art, Como, Italy; Paris, France; Milan, Italy
2019 Visionaries, Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT
2017 Sweetie - Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra, ACT
2014 Wrap Up, Pod – Craft ACT, Braddon, ACT
2013 New Work, (solo) Pod – Craft ACT, Braddon, ACT
2013 Floating Fibres, Sturt Cafe, Mittagong, NSW
2009 Threads of Influence, Sturt Gallery, Mittagong, NSW
2009 Front Show, Front Gallery, Lynham, ACT
2008 Convergence Small Expressions, (Juried), Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, Florida, USA
2007 Distort, (solo), Sturt Gallery, Mittagong, NSW
2004 Display/Showing, Sturt Gallery Shop, Mittagong, NSW
2004 Showcase display at Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT
2003 Moving On, Cuppacumbalong Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2002 Freshly Squeezed, Canberra School of Art Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2002 Showcase display at Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT
2001 From the River, Wollongong, NSW
2001 Repeat Pattern, Artspace 71, Canberra, ACT
Publications
Olde, Melanie, “Creating Auxetic Structures in Three-Dimensional Weaving,” Proceedings of Bridges 2022: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Culture, August 2022, pp 421–424.
“Textiles & Tea Episode 52 Melanie Olde,” Handweavers Guild of America, 10 April, 2022.
Olde, Melanie, “3D Interlock Innovations”, Complex Weavers’ Journal, Complex Weavers, USA, October 2021, Complex Weavers, USA, 2021
Olde, Melanie, “Science and 3D Thinking in Weaving”, Complex Weavers’ Journal, Issue 125, February 2021, Complex Weavers, USA, 2021.
Olde, Melanie, The Maker's Marks: How to Learn from Japanese Weavers at the National Library, National Library of Australia, 2019 https://www.nla.gov.au/stories/blog/behind-the-scenes/2019/03/21/the-maker-s-marks
Holyoke, Julie. Digital Jacquard Design, London, UK, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2013. pp title page, dedication page, 107, 126, 128 (listed as contributor)
Holyoke, Julie. “From Leaf Stomata to Digitally Woven Cloth”, Jacquard, Issue 72, 2014. pp 53-56
Awards
2022 ArtsACT Art Activities grant
2022 1st place, Complexity 2022, USA http://complexityexhibition.org/
2022 Complex Weavers Award
2020 1st place, Complexity 2020, USA
2020 Complex Weavers Award
2004 Australia Council Skills and Development Grant
2002 The EASS NECG Acquisitive Award
2002 The EASS Canberra Spinners and Weavers Award
Residency
2004 – 2012 Weaver in Residence / Tutor for Adult and Children's Classes, Weaving Workshop, Sturt Craft Centre, Mittagong.
2012 Residency, Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio, Italy.
Education
2020 - ongoing, Masters of Contemporary Practices in Art and Design, Australian National University
1999 – 2002 Bachelor of Arts (Visual) Textiles Major, 1st class honours, CSA, NITA, Australian National University
1996 Certificate in Jacquard Weaving, Foundazione Arte Della Seta Lisio, Florence, Italy
1995-6 Certificate of Design Fundamentals, TAFE