Jenifer Darbellay
Reclaimed Fabrics, Batting, Embroidery Threads, Cotton, Metallic Threads
50″ x 62″
$2400

Artist Statement:
Jenifer Darbellay was lucky to be raised by a prolific quilter, the bug finally took hold and in addition to seriously getting back to painting she is building a few different series of quilts. Her long standing background in textiles and garment production also makes fabric and textiles a real constant. Jenifers work over the last decade has been inspired by motifs of weather, angels, women, children, nature, umbrellas, the glow of light and vast space and the watchful gaze of a mother as the world arrives at her children’s doorstep. These images are her companions as she continues her conversation with the canvas or quilt. With whimsy she is asking questions about fragility and protection, preciousness and stoic strength. She is forever fascinated with the relationship between mother/child and the relationship of the mother we are to our own inner child. These three works represent three different series regarding aspects of those themes. Jenifer is using reclaimed fabrics and likes the hum and friction of mixing patterns and playing with the unexpected. She remembers her own childhood learning to stitch and knit, a nod to the yo-yo and innocent images of simple games and simple moments. All these things flow thru her work as she sits and stitches stealing moments as mother do.

Artist Bio:
Jenifer Darbellay is an artist living and working in Vancouver BC. Always a creator from a young age, Jenifer has worked in many mediums and within those mediums in many ways. She received her undergrad from Alberta University of the Arts in Textiles and her MFA from UBC in Theatre Design. She spent the last 32 years designing Costumes (and a few Sets) for Theatre and Film across Canada. Awarded three Betty Awards and a Merritt Award for Outstanding Costume Design, she continues to work in that world when lucky enough to be invited. Textiles, fine arts, craft, design, garment, texture, color and stitch are all deeply intertwined in her artist practice, and have been such great companions since early years.

Find the Artist Online:
Instagram: @ladybellay
Website: jeniferdarbellay.art
Facebook: JeniferDarbellay