Helena Vaari
I am a textile designer and an artist of arts and crafts.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I am a textile designer and an artist of arts and crafts. I design and sew works of textile art for both private residence and public premises. Textiles for Churches are my specialities. I take part on exhibitions and have ones of my own.
My techniques are application, free machine embroidery and textile collage. I call it painting by sewing machine. The yarns are my colours and the needle is my brush.
The tiny yarns have special power. The yarn is three-dimensional, it has the twist and the beautiful shine. When I sew hundreds of tiny twisted yarns together, the power and the three-dimensional effect of the yarns will strengthen.
The picture is very lively, when the light reflects from the yarns and gives power to the whole works.
My ideas come from nature, water, summer, joy of life, children, garden, flowers or just everyday life´s things. I am very interested in folds of the clothes, shadows and lights. I want to represent fabric by fabric; to sew pictures where human is wearing shirts and coats and to see the three-dimensional movement of the fabrics by painting sewing machine.
I want to share the feelings of joy and beauty through my works to people. I consider top class quality very important in my designs and works of textile art.
I have my own design company, called Textile Design Helena Vaari-Silventoinen, studio is next to my home.
Ecclesiastical Textiles
Helena Vaari also designs ecclesiastical textiles, where the symbols and stories make an essential element. A leaf, for example, symbolizes the beginning of new life. These symbols come from the Bible. Each church is one of the kind and therefore these textiles are unique taking into consideration the architecture and the interior of the church.
Textile turner into paintings
Helena Vaari’s techniques of making art are application, machine embroidery and textile collage. She calls it painting by a sewing machine. The yarns are her colours and the needle is her brush. This technique is unique in Finland.
She is very interested in the folds of the cloth, its shadows and light. She wants to represent fabric by fabric; to sew pictures with people wearing shirts and coats and to see the three-dimensional movement of the fabric.
The tiny yarns have special power. The yarn is three-dimensional; it has twists and a beautiful shine. When hundreds of tiny twisted yarns are sewn together, the power and the three-dimensional effect will strengthen. The picture becomes very lively, when the light reflects from the yarns and gives power to the whole work.
When the viewers are looking at these unique works of art, they can make their own interpretations. The artist simply wants to bring beauty and joy of life into people’s minds.
C.V
Birthdate and Place
18.7.1963, Koski HL , Finland
Family
Married; husband Hannu Silventoinen M.Sc. (Eng) children: 2 boys (-91/-93) and a girl (-95)
I have my own Design Company, called Textile Design Helena Vaari-Silventoinen,
next to my home. My artist name is Helena Vaari.
Address: Kylvötie 6, 15860 Hollola, Finland.
+ 358 50 384 7071, helena.vaari@phnet.fi www.helenavaari.fi
Education, Grants and Prizes |
|
Kuopio Academy of Design, Textile Design Department | 1987 (3 years) |
School of Arts and Crafs in Hollola | 1985 (2 years) |
Marticular Examination, Hollola | 1982 |
Textile Designers, The Finnish Association of Design ORNAMO, Member since | 1991 |
Artists O, Ornamo, Member | 2006 |
Finnish Artists Association, Member | 2010 |
Grant by the Finnish Cultural Foundation | 1998 |
Grant by Greta and William Lehtinen Foundation | 2009 |
Grant by the Cultural Commission of Häme | 2009 |
Grant by the Finnish Central Commission of Arts | 2009 |
Grant by the Cultural Commission of Häme | 2010 |
Grant by the Finnish Design Council | 2011 |
Grant by the Cultural Commission of Häme
Grant by the Finnish Design Council Cultural Prize 2012 by Arts Council of Häme Berlin Residence by Arts Council of Häme Grant by Arts Council of Häme Grant by Artists´ Organisation of Lahti Grant by the Finnish Design Council Grant by the Cultural Commission of Häme Grant by Artists Society of Lahti The Businesswoman of the Year in Lahti Grant by the Cultural Commission of Päijät-Häme |
2012
2012 2012 2013 2014 2014 2016 2016 2017 2018 2018 |
Exhibitions (solos and collective) |
|
Needle is brush, Wanha Meijeri, Sastamala
Needle is brush for 30 years, Galleria Nuovo, Lahti Christian Cultural Society in Lahti Cento Cultural Light, Rio de Janeiro, AVA Galleria & Kuklinski Art Exhibition and media by Helsingin Sanomat, Helsinki Narrative, the 10th TEXO triennale of the textile art Thread, Rydals Museum, Sweden Art Lahti 2017 AVA Galleria, Art and Coffee, The Corinthian, New York AVA Galleria, Art and Coffee, United Nations Headquarters, New York Narrative, the 10th TEXO triennale of the textile art Thread, Vapriikki, Tampere Art Center Salmela, Mäntyharju Galleia Espacio, Benalmadena, Spain (own exhibition) Ars Kalmari, Vääksy Cafe Vanha, Helsinki Gallery Fogga, Helsinki The White Shirt, The Culture Centre in Espoo (own exhibition) Design Night Festival, Tallin ARTHÄME, Lahti, jury ARTHELSINKI, Habitare Fair in Helsinki EUNIQUE 2012 art and craft – fair, Karslruhe, Germany, jury |
2018
2017 2016,2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016-17 2017 2016-17 2015 2014 2013, 2014 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 |
Gallery Putka, Savonlinna Opera Festival | 2012 |
The White Shirt, Muotohuoltamo, Lahti, WDC Helsinki 2012, jury | 2012 |
Gallery Aila Seppälä, Lahti | 2012 |
Gallery Dix, own exhibition, Helsinki | 2011 |
Gallery Pinna, own exhibition, Savonlinna, jury | 2011 |
Artists Association, Lahti, jury | 2011 |
Zoom, Gallery Aila Seppälä, Lahti | 2010 |
Art in Action, Oxford, Britain, jury | 2010 |
Origin 2009, The London Craft Fair, Britain, jury | 2009 |
Eye of the needle, own exhibition, Helsinki | 2009 |
Eye of the needle, own exhibition, Art&Book Gallery, Porvoo | 2009 |
It is beautiful here, international textile exhibition, jury, Fiskars | 2009 |
Art Embroidery – Still Life, France, Netherlands, Sweden, jury | 2008-2009 |
Manor of Jokela, Gallerie Oljemark, Hämeenkoski, jury | 2008 |
Art Salon Piirto, Helsinki, own exhibition | 2008 |
Art and Antique Fairs, own stand, in many towns | 2007-2008 |
Gardenia-Helsinki, own exhibition | 2007 |
Pfaff Art Embroidery/Still Life, London, jury | 2007 |
Galleria Muu, Helsinki, jury | 2007 |
Art Center Ihana, America!, Heinola, jury | 2007 |
Mikael Agricola, Secco, jury | 2007 |
Pellavaloukku, Hämeenkoski, own exhibition | 2007 |
Gallery Plataani, Helsinki | 2006-2007 |
Galleria Norsu, Helsinki | 2006-2007 |
Pellavaloukku, Hämeenkoski, own exhibition | 2006 |
Textile artists TEXO´s 50 th Anniversary mini art textile exhibition, Helsinki, jury | 2006 |
The Manor of Pyhäniemi, Hollola, jury | 2003 |
A Dream of Light, Scarves designed by Marja Kurki´s desingers, Helsinki | 2001 |
Find, Helsinki, the City of European culture, jury | 2000 |
90´ METRI-exhibition, The Gallery of Amer, Ornamo, Helsinki, jury | 1991 |
Finnish Design 90´, Design Forum, Helsinki, jury | 1990 |
Arts and Carfts, ARTENO ry, Helsinki, jury | 1988 |
Works in Churches and Chapels |
|
The Christening Tree, the Church of Vihti
The Chapel of Luomaniemi, Nastola, Ecclesiastical Textiles The gown, the stolas and the mitre to the Bishop of Kuopio The gown, the stolas and the mitre to the Bishop of Helsinki The Christening Tree, the Church of Lappee, Lappeenranta The Church of Henric, Pyhtää, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series The Church of Hämeenkoski, Ecclesiastical Textiles, white and violet series The Catafalque cloth, the Chapel of Living Water, Järvenpää The church of Maria, Lappee, Lappeenranta, Ecclesiastical Tectiles, all series The church of Maria, Hamina, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series The gown, the stola and the headdress to the Bishop of Mikkeli |
2018
2018 2018 2017 2017 2014-18 2014-2018 2016 2014- 2012-14 2010 |
The church of Siuntio, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series | 2008-2012 |
The church of Hollola, Ecclesiastical Textiles, black serie | 2008 |
The church of Paulus, Helsinki, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series | 2003-2006 |
The church of Hämeenkoski, Ecclesiastical Textiles, two series | 2003-2007 |
The church of Paulus, The Chapel, Works of Textiles Art | 2005 |
The Hietaniemi Crematorium, The small Chapel | 2005 |
Series of stolas ´´Ego Sum´´, the Church Resources Agency, Sacrum, Helsinki | 1998- |
The gown, the stola and the headdress to the Bishop of Namibia, Apollos Kaulinge | 1996 |
The church of Joutjärvi, Lahti, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series | 1991-1995 |
The church of Padasjoki, Padasjoki, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series | 1989-1993 |
The church of Salpausselkä, Lahti, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series | 1989-1991 |
The church of Hollola, Hollola, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series | 1986-89, 1995-96 |
Work Experience |
|
Marja Kurki Oy, designer of ties and scarves | 1998-2002 |
Free lancer designer. During these years were born my three children. | 1991-1998 |
Sellgren Ltd, Orimattila, Industrial Designer of Fabrics | 1987-1991 |
News
Helena Vaari´s exhibitions 2018
Needle is brush 3.-31.8.2018
Kulttuurikeskus Wanha Meijeri, Sastamala.
Contact
Textile Artist Helena Vaari
Kylvötie 6, 15860 Hollola, Finland
+ 358 50 384 7071
helena.vaari(at)phnet.fi
www.helenavaari.fi