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Friday, October 1, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER 35 ________ An O akville B eaver Feature Editor: CAROL BALDWIN, 845-3824 (Extension 254) Fax: 337-5567 A rts & Entertainm ent ASymphon A n a r t e x h i b i t i o n o f p o c k e t p u r s e s d u r i n g O c t o b e r By Carol Baldwin ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR "Women work with so many distractions a t once. They work in simultaneous layers, and these are simultaneous layers... I like the idea o f creating something and putting something inside i t " P ocket purses in all shapes and colours will be on display at Green Gables Framing and Art Studio this month. Sybil Rampen, co-founder of the Oakville Stitchery Guild and program convener for this exhibition, has her­ self created eight pocket purses for the display. Each purse is unique on the outside as well as the inside - a frog purse with its mate held inside; a fish purse that, like the popular Russian dolls, holds a fish within a fish with­ in a fish; a lamb purse with triplets inside; a nostalgia purse with treasures from a favourite ancestor. 'T h a t's my collection - all watercolour painted, all layered with knitted (thread) webs and embroidery, some beaded or appliqued; and they all have surprises inside," says Rampen, explaining that her purses are a reflection of women's work over the ages. "Women work with so many distractions at once. They work in simultaneous layers, and these are simultaneous layers...I like the idea of creat­ ing something and putting something inside it." Rampen has used a number of materials for her purses as well as for the treasures inside, everything from watercolour paints for the original fabric to Fimo for some of the handles and inside treasures. The softness of the bags not only comes from the fabric but also from the cotton batting lining. And most are dec­ orated inside as well as out. The exhibition, titled A Symphony of Stitches, will include about 50 purses the size of an evening bag, creat­ ed by members of the Stitchery Guild. These pocket purs­ es will be on display at Green Gables Framing and Art Studio, 46 John St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays to Saturdays until Oct. 31st. The impetus for this unusual exhibition began with an exhibit o f contemporary embroidery that Rampen had attended in England. "Amongst the inspired masterpieces was a series of lit­ tle embroidered purses, delightful vehicles of embroi­ dery," she explains. "All that is needed is a bit of cloth, thread, scissors, thimble and a needle. These could be popped into a zip-lock bag and carried in a purse. I made drawings, took photos, and tucked the idea into my trav­ eling bag." However, the concept didn't stay tucked away for long. Her passion for watercolour printmaking along with the idea of embroidery and working in layers motivated her to offer a watercolour workshop on fabric. The work­ shop participants took what they learned from Rampen and designed their own creations, which will be on dis­ play at this month's exhibition. "There will be a cross-section of ethnic, traditional and contemporary style," she explains. 'T h e challenge is to complement each layer and not lose the image." Some of these one-of-a-kind purses will be for sale; Rampen's will not. "I need mine for a show in England. Besides, I like them," she says. "Each one of these is like a stepping stone to the next one...a problem that had to be solved... They're useless, decorative nonsense, but Photo by Peter C. McCusker Sybil Rampen displays some of the pocket purses and their "treasures" that she will have in the exhibition A S ym ­ ph o n y o f S titches. Her one-of-a-kind purses will be part of an exhibition of purses that opens tomorrow and con­ tinues in Green Gables Framing and Art Studio at 46 John St., Tuesdays to Saturdays, until Oct. 31st The 50 or so purses in the exhibition will represent a cross-section of ethnic, traditional and contemporary styles. Rampen is pre­ pared to create a kit for those who may want to try their hands at pocket-purse making. they're art forms." One advantage of working on something so small and foldable she says, is that she can practise her art while waiting in an airport or sitting through a lengthy meeting. In fact, the convenience of it has convinced Rampen to consider creating a kit for those who may want to try their hands at pocket-purse making while they do other, more passive, activities like watching television or sitting through meetings. "If you want to make your own, I'm perfectly happy to show you how," she says. Gillian McIntyre, executive director of the Oakville Arts Council, will officially open the exhibition, A Sym­ phony of Stitches, at a reception tomorrow (Saturday), from 2 to 5 p.m.