Gust Gallery - Fine Arts

My preference for the fabric medium is inspired by the interplay of the aesthetic and the functional aspects of cloth, the cultural significance of textiles, and the outstanding quality of fiberwork that has been produced everywhere and at all times. Textiles have played a key part in the drama of history, from the Silk Road along which garments of power were transported; to the Industrial Revolution and its first casualties, the handweavers; to the Information Age in which we all now find ourselves, enveloped in the "nets" and "webs" of computers. My weaving makes me feel connected to this history; each piece I make testifies to being part of the continuum.

After growing up in Alberta, Bonita Datta attended the University of Calgary and the University of Rhode Island, obtaining an M.Sc. in mathematics in 1970. Her working life began as a college instructor, then settled into a career in the rapidly growing computer industry, where she designed and implemented computer systems. A life-long interest in textiles led to the publication of several pamphlets and articles. In recent years, she has applied her mathematical and computer abilities to researching handloom weaving and tablet weaving. She currently lives on a small farm near Airdrie.