The textile artist Wendy Van Riesen discusses her retirement from design and fabrication, the last sixteen years of Dahlia Drive, and her future, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

The renowned textile artist Wendy Van Riesen joins me now. After sixteen years of design and fabrication Wendy is retiring. I’ll ask her about her art practice, and the ethical way she goes about upcycling and handmaking. We’ll also discuss her collaboration with Haida artist Reg Davidson. I interviewed Reg back in 2016 when their collection was launched as part of Eco Fashion Week. Wendy will be at the 2023 Circle Craft Holiday Market starting this Wednesday, 08 November 2023 through to Sunday, 12 November 2023. She’ll have Dahlia Drive’s last hundred garments for sale, and if you’ve got a Dahlia Drive piece from the last sixteen years, you’re invited to wear it to the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Visit www.circlecraft.ca for tickets and information. We taped this interview last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program Wendy Van Riesen; Ms. Van Riesen, good morning.

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