Weaving her way into art world

Common Thread debuts the work of 21 emerging artists who have completed their degree at the University of Ulster in Belfast.

Michelle Stephens' work will be displayed along with other students in the exhibition which is expected to attract some 6,000 visitors.

Her work, a series of five works entitled 'Woven' is a fusion of contemporary and traditional weaving techniques which she completed as part of her fine and applied arts degree.

Michelle said: "I have taken the history and tradition of weaving and given it a contemporary feel.

"I decided on textile design because it presented a real challenge to me. Sculpting and painting, which I can do, almost seemed a bit too easy.

"Weaving is often regarded as a traditional skill - one your granny might do, so I really want to bring it up-to-date with modern techniques, so I use the likes of laser cutting in my work."

The 23-year-old is a former Lurgan College pupil and recently took part in an Arts Care project.

She said: "I think my first art project was designing a healthy eating project for school.

"From then on I have been encouraged to go on and do better. I love working with the fabric and creating something out of all the various different pieces of fabric and using different forms of media.

"Through the arts care project we visited Belfast City Hospital to demonstrate how art can be a form of therapy.

"Some patients were suffering from cancer, others were waiting on treatment and they really responded to the art.

"The changes I saw in the patients were incredible. The programme helped them to overcome their worries and improve well being.

"Art can make a real difference, it is something I would love to continue to work at and make into a career."

Common Thread opens on Monday, June 7 at 6pm in the school of art and design in the Belfast campus of the University of Ulster.

It will run for two weeks until June 21.