My work is a refuge and meditation...a place where I am able to recreate the timeless and sacred aspects of India that I experience. The South Indian 'dupchaa' silk that I use to create my hand-stitched tapestries is luminous and vibrant. I continually seek ways to honour its unique qualities, especially the dynamic play of light and color that it offers. Traditional Indian textile work inspires my techniques and my contemplative subject emphasis shifts from nature to sacred imagery.
Diane was born on the Canadian west coast in 1955. Her childhood love of playing with fabrics and enjoyment of stitching led to school studies in tailoring, costume and fashion design. Settling into a life on Hornby Island in the 1970's and '80's her creativity and innovative use of materials established Diane as a well-known quilt maker and fabric artist. She changed course in the late 1980's to pursue her passion with childbirth and trained on Hornby Island and Victoria as a lay midwife. She practiced in both communities, later moving to India where she lived and worked for eight years. She concluded her midwifery career in 2003 when she left India to return home to become a grandmother, and tend to the rebirth of her fabric art. Her years of diverse travel and work experience now contribute to her development of new imagery and fibre art techniques. Her exhibitions inspire awe and delight with works collected locally and internationally. Diane currently lives in her home on Hornby Island, an artist, yogi, and yoga teacher, while continuing with extended visits to India.
Yogi...Yoga
I've been practicing yoga for the last twenty years and teach to regular students on Hornby Island and offer Yoga intensives, which are often in conjunction with my art exhibitions. My teachers have been Pheobe Long (Swami Radha), Gay Meagley (formerly Iyengar), Asha Dieleman (Kripalu) and Sama Fabian (Dona Holleman). My practice has been highly influenced by these women. Dance, midwifery and childbirth, and students I have worked with are further influences. I view yoga in all of its aspects as a lifelong study, which continually unveils the mysteries and secrets of the relationship to Self, other and life. In my teachings I aim to offer a space for people to experience this in a nurturing and fulfilling way.
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