Wilma Butts
Daisho, 2010
Silk & aluminum 24" x 80"
Daisho is a balance of light and dark, transparency and opacity. The floating quality of the weightless silk is grounded by the solidity of the metal. As in nature, balance is everything!
Wilma Butts
Daisho (detail), 2010
Silk & aluminum 24" x 80"
Daisho is a balance of light and dark, transparency and opacity. The floating quality of the weightless silk is grounded by the solidity of the metal. As in nature, balance is everything!
Wilma Butts
Anemone, 2007
Silk approx. 30" x 60"
Created using shibori shaped silk and fibre reactive dyes. This piece explores the transparent ethereal beauty of the underwater world. Anemone is alive with movement, texture and dimension.
Wilma Butts
Anemone (detail), 2007
Silk approx. 30" x 60"
Created using shibori shaped silk and fibre reactive dyes. This piece explores the transparent ethereal beauty of the underwater world. Anemone is alive with movement, texture and dimension.
Wilma Butts
Dusting, 2012
Paper, silk fibre, fibre reactive dye 14" x 37"
Inspired by a photo with the caption “Stone Dusting”, on display at the Glace Bay Miner's Museum. The photo shows a miner in the process of applying stone dust or calcium carbonate which helps to reduce the propagation of coal dust explosions in underground mines. The shock of white stone dust stands in dramatic contrast to the complete blackness of the mine.
Wilma Butts
Dusting (detail), 2012
Paper, silk fibre, fibre reactive dye 14" x 37"
Inspired by a photo with the caption “Stone Dusting”, on display at the Glace Bay Miner's Museum. The photo shows a miner in the process of applying stone dust or calcium carbonate which helps to reduce the propagation of coal dust explosions in underground mines. The shock of white stone dust stands in dramatic contrast to the complete blackness of the mine.
Wilma Butts
Amanita 3, 2012
Silk, fibre reactive dye 6" x 19"
Amanita #3 explores the potential of using the texture and shading of shibori dyed and pleated silk as a sculptural medium. The texture created by the intricate thread bound, pole wrapped process has been captured in the silk fibre creating thousands of tiny knife edged pleats. The incredible 'memory' of silk makes this possible.
Wilma Butts
Amanita 3(detail), 2012
Silk, fibre reactive dye 6" x 19"
Amanita #3 explores the potential of using the texture and shading of shibori dyed and pleated silk as a sculptural medium. The texture created by the intricate thread bound, pole wrapped process has been captured in the silk fibre creating thousands of tiny knife edged pleats. The incredible 'memory' of silk makes this possible.
Wilma Butts
Autumnal, 2017
Paper, silk fibre, fibre reactive dye 36" x 46"
“Autumnal” was inspired by the iconic Canadian maple leaf. The symbol has instant recognition with Canadian identity, from our flag, to patches on backpacks, to an Olympic hockey jersey. The beauty of the maple leaf can be appreciated through all of our seasonal extremes. The first fresh green leaves of spring, the lush, cool canopy of summer, the blaze of colour in fall and crunch of texture in early winter. Each season holds it's unique beauty, but the true drama of the maple leaf is found for a short period in fall. “Autumnal” explores the dramatic colours and sculptural beauty of late fall leaves. The piece was created using rice paper with silk fibre. The paper was pleated and dyed using a Japanese shibori technique that results in an amazing organic texture. The delicate pleated paper shares the fragility of a crisp autumn leaf.
Wilma Butts
Flower Power (detail), 2019
Silk, paper, fibre reactive dye, wire Three large scale sculptural flowers with stems...52" x 68"
This piece celebrates the flower power imagery of the Woodstock era, best symbolized by the classic Unikko flower graphic. The Unikko graphic is also celebrating a 50th anniversary this year. Flower Power takes inspiration from the simple, bold, brightly coloured graphic floral patterns of the 1960's. The simple graphic imagery is brought to three dimensional life using multiple meters of hand dyed, pleated and sculpted silk fabric. The leaves and stems were created using hand dyed and pleated paper. This piece embraces the whimsy of the 60's flower power spirit.
