Jemima Olsen - Textile artist and member of Tenfold Textile Collective
Jemima Olsen is a textile artist working and living in Ballarat. Having grown up in Ballarat, Jem moved away for a while and returned to her childhood town. Having completed a Certificate IV in Textile Design and Development, RMIT University , Jem’s current textile projects often carry a political message, taking paper, like off-cuts from magazines and newspapers that embed hidden messages and stories. She then transforms these materials through stitching, developing a fabric of messages and meaning. Jem is working on a new work for the Art of Making: Ballarat exhibition which will open in April 2020 as part of the Ballarat Open Studios program in the new Art Space Ballarat. There are rumours that this work will reflect the rebelliousness of Ballarat’s history, something that resonates strongly with Jems’ memories of growing up in Ballarat.
1. How would you describe yourself and your practice?
I am a textile artist with a particular interest in collage, quilting and printmaking. I make pieces that respond to issues, both political and personal, for exhibition with “Tenfold Textile Collective”, a group I founded with nine fellow textile design graduates in 2016, and by invite from private galleries.
2. How did your collective come together?
Tenfold Textile Collective was born during my final year of studying textile design at RMIT University, when my fellow classmates and I decided to organise our own exhibition. It was such a wonderful experience that we decided to continue exhibiting together. Now that some of our members live outside of Melbourne, including Ana Peditis and myself who live in Ballarat, we meet up either in person or via Zoom or Skype every few months to discuss ideas and plans for future exhibitions, and to share resources, tips and insights. We also try to organise an excursion or field trip together once a year. This year we travelled up to Wangaratta for their biannual “Stitched‐Up” festival and to see the works that were selected as finalists of their major award, which included a piece submitted by fellow Tenfolder Tara Glastonbury.
3. How has working in a collective changed your arts practice?
Being part of Tenfold has encouraged me to be more pro‐active in asking for feedback about my work and using this to be more critically reflective of my practice. It provides a ready source of connection, encouragement and trouble‐shooting of problems encountered (both in regards to our shared loved of textiles and on the personal level). This year we have scheduled extra quarterly meetings that provide us an opportunity to discuss our aspirations for the year ahead, check in with how we’re progressing and gain feedback about ideas we have and samples of our work. The exhibitions we organise help to focus our energies in needing to stick to strict deadlines; there’s a level of accountability with not only yourself but the greater community that is Tenfold. I feel so lucky to have made such wonderful like‐minded friends whilst at RMIT!
4. What inspires you to make?
The world around me for sure. I find that the genesis of a new piece starts with wanting to respond to an issue I feel very strongly about and then determining which medium and materials I’ll use.
5. How did you become a maker?
I think it all started as a child when I saw these amazing collage creations my mum would make from pressed flowers she collected and included in books of poetry she wrote. Whilst in primary school, I loved art classes as well as writing and illustrating my own stories. Then by the time I hit high school, I felt a huge need to ditch my love of art and being creative to focus on the more academic subjects that would help me get into University. However, it was when I started University that I started making my own clothes. After stints working as a primary school teacher, international development worker and university administrator, I then decided to study textile design as a way of channeling and further exploring my long held love of fabric, sewing and design.
6. What projects do you have coming up?
Tenfold will be exhibiting again at Black Cat Gallery in Collingwood next November. I’ve just applied to complete an artist residency in New South Wales to help me complete the piece I have in mind for this exhibition. It will be a very personal response to discovering more about my paternal grandmother who passed away when I was very young. Despite not having had the opportunity to get to know her in person, from what I have been told about my grandmother, I feel a strong connection with her and through creating this piece, I am keen to both explore and lay to rest feelings that this connection in(pro)vokes.
