Exploring plant fibres for textiles and sculptural works.
2026 Artist in Residence, Fibre Makers Space, Brough House
For the first half of 2026, Jane is Artist in Residence at the Fibre Makers Space in Maitland, where she is exploring intersections between textile practice, rainforest botany and the historic collection of Grossmann House (part of the National Trust – Grossmann & Brough Houses). Her research draws on local plant knowledge and material experimentation, focusing particularly on bast fibre from Hibiscus heterophyllus cultivated on her property.
The residency will culminate in a July exhibition featuring a suite of new works, including a full-scale sculptural garment based on a Victorian silhouette, constructed from hand-processed rainforest fibre; and rainforest flower and leaf forms made using millinery techniques to form a ‘vitrine’ based on a historical item in the collection.
There are Open Studio Days – 8 March through to 26 May – most Mondays & Tuesdays 10-3.
Experiments with Hibiscus heterophyllus bast fibre – weaving, sewing, paper making
Hibiscus heterophyllus
Preparing Hibiscus heterophyllus for fibre – felling, debarking, removing the top layer of bark, retting (soaking in water for a few weeks – getting those bioenxymes to breakdown the pectin, lignen and hemicellulose).
Scraping the outer layer of bark exposes the periderm layer which is the layer that is used for fibre – bast fibre.
Retting & revealing the bast fibre
Below: past weaving – the fibre is very long and strong. Looking forward to more fibre experimentation.
Hibiscus heterophyllus is a local small tree that is found on the margins of our rainforest. It is an excellent pioneer species for rainforest restoration work.
