“Four Voices in Silk” Showcases a Living Artistic Tradition

Manchester artist Christine Gauthier-Kelley is among four Cape Ann artists bringing the centuries-old art of hand-painted silk into a contemporary setting in “Four Voices in Silk,” now on view at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly.

Gauthier-Kelley joins Allyson Christopher, Sue Niemi and Leslie Pearlman, all artists of Gloucester’s Ten Pound Studio, for an exhibition exploring both the traditional craft and surprising versatility of painting directly on silk.  Ten Pound Studio is located on Main Street in downtown.

The four artists work with traditional resist-and-dye methods, including the original “serti steam-set” technique.  Serti comes from the French sertir, meaning roughly “to encircle” or “to enclose.”  In silk painting, the artist first stretches silk taut on a frame and then draws outlines with a barrier that protects the design from “bleeding” through and blurring the design.  After the painting is complete, the silk is steam-set. 

This technique gives the artist precision shapes and patterns while retaining the luminous, flowing quality of dye on silk.

While sharing those specialized methods, each has developed a distinct visual approach.  Together, the artists have also made preservation of the technique part of their practice, maintaining skills and knowledge that have become increasingly uncommon.

“Four Voices in Silk” demonstrates just how varied the results can be. The exhibition includes wearable art, wall pieces, decorative works and home décor, with the silk producing luminous color, fluid movement and intricate patterns as the dyes move through the fabric.

An opening celebration and sale of wearable art will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. A public forum and sale follows Sept. 11, offering visitors an opportunity to meet the artists and learn more about their techniques and efforts to preserve the tradition of silk painting. Student classes and workshops are also planned.

“Four Voices in Silk” continues through Sept. 24 at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly.