Submitted by: Maia Stark, Gallery Assistant
Let’s talk about our
feelings. Well, actually, I’d like to talk about feltings and fullings—the pun
was well worth it, wasn’t it? Felting is a process that occurs when fibers are
physically agitated, so that they seem to knit themselves together. Microscopic
scales cover filaments of animal hair (wool, for example), and these scales
swell open when agitated, causing filaments to interlock with each other. This
agitation can occur through physical agitation, moistness, or changes in the pH
of the fibers from using soap.[i] Felt is
known to be one of the oldest fabrics known to humankind, as anthropologists
have found artifacts of felted materials dating back to 500BC! The
characteristics of felt being strong but light, and water and wind-resistant at
certain thicknesses made it the perfect choice for tents and clothing for
nomadic groups.[ii]
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| Neck warmer with button, detail, Cindy Obuck, (SCC Boutique). |
There are many ways
to felt wool, but there are two main distinctions: wet felting and dry felting.
Dry felting requires the use of a felting needle, which has barbs cut into its
metal shaft allowing the needle to snag and intertwine filaments.[iii] Wet
felting uses heat, moisture, and agitation to turn the loose wool fibers into
felt. For example, some artists compress the wool with soapy water, then roll
the wool sheet in bubble wrap or thermal wrap, and use a combination of
rolling, throwing, and kneading over hours to create a good quality dense felt:
a very laborious process![iv] It’s
important to note that “felting” is quite different from “fulling.” Felting
uses raw wool, while fulling is a
process applied to wool that has already been treated in a particular way; fulling
is the process of fluffing up an already woven or knitted piece of woven cloth,
while felting does not use any sort of weaving process for initial structure.[v]
Cindy Obuck, a
professional craftsperson with the Saskatchewan Craft Council, was always
interested in art but never investigated it outside her qualifications as a
graphic designer until discovering felting. Self-taught, Obuck mostly uses welt
felting and needle felting, and even quilting techniques to create her unique
wall hangings and wool sculptures.[vi]
 |
| “Anemone Delight,” Cindy Obuck, 2013 (cindyobuck.com). |
 |
| “Prince,” mONsTer pODs, Cindy Obuck (cindyobuck.com). |
Obuck has a sensitive approach to her work, creating subtle
variations in tone and hue. The range of her work is impressive as well, from
comical monsters to beautiful neck-warmers with buttons, and sturdy purses with
leather straps. Despite the various incarnations, each piece Obuck makes incorporates
her signature whimsical style.
 |
| Neck warmer with button, Cindy Obuck (SCC Boutique). |
If you are interested
in purchasing one of Cindy Obuck’s pieces, or seeing what other fabulous work
we have in store, please visit the SCC Fine Craft Boutique, located in the
Saskatchewan Craft Council’s Affinity Gallery at 813 Broadway Avenue,
Saskatoon, SK.
[i] strongfelt.com
[ii] Amanostudios.com
[iii] strongfelt.com
[iv] Amanostudios.com
[v] Fuzzygalore.biz
[vi] Cindyobuck.com
