In a province noted for its vibrant textile community and traditions, Susan Furneaux stands out for her distinctive sensibility and diverse technical skills. Exquisite embroideries, daring compositions, subtle natural dyes, and – most recently – character-filled dolls, are evidence of Furneaux’s mastery of textile techniques and love of its labour-soaked processes. But uniting the varied wall mounted work, quilts, kimonos and dolls is Furneaux’s use of narrative. She is a storyteller. Susan’s stories are the stuff of cherished memories, daily rituals and lessons learned. They gently emphasize the importance of relationships and family and as such have a universal appeal. One of the devices Furneaux uses consistently is the written word itself. The words may originate from family journals, old postcards, a label from a can of evaporated milk or a bill from an evening at the local pub. But she transforms them. Handwritten, silk screened or embroidered the words inform, entertain and have an unexpected visual presence. Furneaux can take a phrase like “You are my sunshine” and through the insightful use of gold thread elevate the popular culture of our daily lives to the preciousness of an illuminated manuscript. The strength of Susan Furneaux’s textile work is that despite its emotional content it is not sentimental.
