Chris Liszak :: Creating during Covid

Recently we asked felt :: feutre canada's new president, Chris Liszak to share her Covid creations with us. Chris lives in Ontario’s gorgeous Niagara Region, where she divides her time between her passions, golf and the fibre arts—felting, sewing and knitting.

She writes two fabulous blogs: Chris Knits in Niagara and Chris Liszak, Felt Artist. Both are great resources for fibre lovers looking for inspiration during these difficult times.

What are you currently working on? 

I am currently working on a mosaic piece, above, using offcuts from my felted coats as the “tiles." It is a new technique and I had a lot to learn, but I am pleased with it so far. I have yet to mount the border and backing to allow it to be hung with a sleeve, quilt style.

I have also started a new piece featuring masks, using continuous stitching as embellishment. Both new pieces are in response to call for artist postings.

I currently have one of my works travelling across Canada, with the “Colour with a U” exhibition. It is in Nova Scotia at the moment, and will tour until the end of 2022. My piece, “United Diversity”, is a fully wearable dress that depicts how our separate roots (from other countries) anchors the proud citizenship that we all wear.

Check out the the SAQA exhibition “Colour with a U” online HERE.

What are you looking forward to in the future?

I have begun to take online courses in felt making. My hope is that I will learn new techniques and improve my felting skills, and also improve my own teaching skills. I currently teach in-person, and hope to create my own online workshops and tutorials.

Before this year, I had not considered learning online. I now appreciate this available option, and will support online felting instructors. It will make meeting them in person, when we are able, so much sweeter.

I will continue creating my own style of felt art and wearable art. There never seems to be an end to what felt can do, and the journey is so exciting.

Thank you, Chris for sharing your time and your beautiful art with us.