Quint-Essential Art - A Silken Thread

John Rowland supported by his sister Sarah DaBell draw on experiences and associations with parts of the world through which the fabled Silk Road passed. Various trading routes that gave rise to the advancement of commerce, science, art and culture across the Orient, Middle East and Central Asia.

John’s first association with this part of the world was in 1974 when as a student he spent a summer working on an archaeological site in South West Turkey. Then subsequently spending five years as a young surveyor working in the Middle East and Pakistan. More recently he has made a series of trips to Central Asia with an adventure cycling company called Redspokes armed with camera and sketch book. His works in pastel and photogravure prints draw from both his past and more recent travels through this region.

John’s sister Sarah works with felt and other textiles that include silk. The exhibited items incorporate margilan silk, a very fine silk from the far east of Uzbekistan.