I met Margaret in Glassact251, and of course she still makes wonderful lampwork beads, as well as fusing. But she's also become entranced by the meditative qualities (my phrase, not hers:) of beadweaving, as in this series of herringbone, or Ndbele, bracelets.

Copyright Margaret Sutherland 2006. All rights reserved.

Ndbele (and I prefer this term, to honor the people that originated the technique) is stitched with pairs of beads, with the thread path such that they set at slight angles to each other, producing a wonderfully drapable fabric. In combination with the beads themselves, which are triangular in cross-section (thus angular) and the subtle color pattern running throughout the piece (it zigzags along the length of the bracelet) it's easy to see that this work is a study in the acute angles that permeate it on no less than three levels. (And you thought artspeak couldn't be applied to beads. Ha!)

Add to that the subtlety of the colors—matt, iridescent, and metallic, and you have a sumptuous, yet subtle exploration of color and form.

Brava, Margaret.

file created 16 mar 2006.

Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.