Feltworkers Experiment N°1: Marjolein Dallinga

We are so very proud to have amazing felt artist Marjolein Dallinga in our Feltworkers group. It seems strange to me to introduce her here as she has such a great reputation all over the world already. So just in case you don't know her yet, here some infos.

Marjolein is born in the Netherlands and studied art on Academy Minerva of Groningen (NL). In 1989 she emigrated to Canada.

Felt artist Marjolein Dallinga

Her first steps in felt were through jewelry design and toys but nowadays she is most well-known for her spectacular costumes. She’s the one who created some of the outstanding costumes for the famous “Cirque du Soleil” in Montréal and won three awards in the fantastic “World of Wearable Show” (WOW - Show) in New Zealand.

award winning costume design by Marjolein Dallinga

amazing sculpture to wear by Marjolein Dallinga

Living felt sculpture by Marjolein Dallinga

She also created many art books and comic strips and participates in several exhibitions around the globe as for example at SOFA / Chicago, where she did a felted interior design for the gallry “Option Art”.

Marjolein is also a very well-known international teacher and inspired a lot of felters.

It’s so wonderful reading in her statement, that the fascination of felt is still stimulating her every day:

“The natural world inspires me; its sounds, feel and touch, the textures and forms. My work is inspired by feelings, thoughts and dreams.

For several years I have tried to shape, sculpt, fold and cut this warm and woolly material through the process of felting during which it metamorphoses from an array of loose colorful fibers to a strong sturdy textile.

It is from the dance of conflicting emotions that creativity and art are born. Though sculpture is usually perceived as static I see it more as movement, the movement of wool from fibers into felt.

And as long as there is movement there is life.”