Keywords: alice vokac, australia, bobbin lace, new south wales, sydney, thread, cotton, panel, silk

First Day Wonder

Alice Vokac

Dimensions

195 x 265 x 2 mm

Materials

Lace panel: bobbin lace in cotton and silk threads

Artist statement

‘I am a self-taught lace-maker and have been making lace for 16 years. I came to Australia in 1969 from the Czech Republic.

I design the motifs myself from images I see and imagine, predominantly with Australian themes. ‘Waratah’, ‘Sunset over Sydney Harbour’, ‘Uluru’ and ‘View of the Harbour Bridge’ are some of the images I have created in lace.

I found a photo of the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge, the day de Groot beat the Premier of New South Wales by galloping past on his horse with a sword to cut the ribbon. The image fascinated me. The overwhelming steel structure hooked me completely. It suited the technique of lace making so perfectly.’

Behind the scenes

Alice Vokac: bobbin lace

Love Lace: Work in progress