This weekend, Fabrik Arts + Heritage welcomes visitors for the first time since a major re-development with a special opening celebration from Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd of September. There will be artist talks, workshops, music, and opportunities to get creative!
Fabrik aims to create a home for textiles in South Australia and an exciting new space to showcase local artists. The former woollen mill now features accessible galleries, workshop spaces, artist studios, and
accommodation for artists in residence.
The newly built pavilion includes a retail store with carefully curated artisan goods and an event space. The textile heritage and history of the Onkaparinga Woollen Mill are celebrated with museum displays.
This heritage listed site has great significance to its community as a place of refuge and recovery post the 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfires. After the fires, Fabrik’s focus turned to exploring how creative practice could support the recovery from natural disasters. Almost five years on, it’s time to celebrate, connect, and enjoy this historic hub through creativity.
The opening exhibitions, All things are connected, curated by artist Kay Lawrence and present, a project by India Flint for Fabrik Arts + Heritage, pay tribute to Fabrik’s textile roots and are open until Sunday 27 October.
All things are connected celebrates connection, a key characteristic of textiles practice and Ngarrindjeri philosophy, and a concept at the heart of Fabrik’s ethos. The artists are Cheryl Hutchens, Kay Lawrence, Sara Lindsay, Deborah Prior, Sonya Rankine, Ellen Trevorrow, Ema Shin, Linda Marie Walker, and Sera Waters. As the exhibition reveals, the practice of textiles offers many ways to connect and live creatively in community.
present is a gathering of self-portraits for the reopening of Fabrik. The project was conceived by artist India Flint and presents an offering of creativity, connection and a coming together in stitches. 130 hand stitched self-portraits from all over the world will be on display, bringing the faces of a world-wide textile community together in Lobethal.
Supported by a grant from the Government of South Australia and the Australian Government.
Hero image: Gingham blown glass vessel by Bailey Donovan. Source: Supplied
We hope to see you at Fabrik Arts + Heritage – view the opening weekend program and ongoing exhibitions at:
