Western Terrace: Common Thread Exhibition

Three vibrant textile artworks hang in a well-lit gallery. Each depicts abstract human figures with colorful, embroidered designs. The atmosphere is artistic and expressive.

Western Terrace: Common Thread Exhibition

Celebrate International Women’s Day at PHIVE with the Fabric Connections community!

 

The Western Terrace came alive with colour, conversation and connection as the Fabric Connections community gathered for a special community exhibition.

Inspired by strength, family, identity, vulnerability and self discovery, each textile work reflected the journeys we take as women, mothers, carers, and community members. On the night, artists shared the stories behind their works, creating a powerful moment of listening, making and reflection.

Guided by artist Linda Brescia, and joined by Anney Bounpraseuth for a joyful embroidery workshop, the evening was about more than art, it was about belonging, friendship and nearly three years of creating side by side at PHIVE.
 

Gallery

A brightly lit room features five colorful quilt banners hanging in a row, with two empty chairs centered below. A bouquet of flowers is blurred in the foreground, conveying a creative and inviting atmosphere.
Photo by Rihana Samouly
A group of people engage in conversation in a brightly lit room with artistic banners hanging in the background. A screen displays images on the left. A floral arrangement in the foreground adds vibrancy. The atmosphere is lively and creative.
Photo by Rihana Samouly
A group of diverse women smiling as they choose food items from a buffet table. Pastries and juice bottles are displayed. The atmosphere is cheerful and social.
Photo by Rihana Samouly
Two women focus on crafting at a table in a brightly lit kitchen with red walls. One holds yarn, while the other threads a needle. A basket and festive tablecloth are present.
Photo by Rihana Samouly
Two women focus on crafting at a table filled with colorful paper and tools. The setting is bright and open, evoking creativity and concentration.
Photo by Rihana Samouly
Three vibrant textile artworks hang in a well-lit gallery. Each depicts abstract human figures with colorful, embroidered designs. The atmosphere is artistic and expressive.
Photo by Rihana Samouly
Art installation with hanging textiles covered in abstract designs and text, bathed in colorful lighting. A screen on the left shows fabric with text.
Photo by Rihana Samouly
A group of people seated on the ground indoors, enjoying food and drinks, engaged in conversation. The scene is warm and sociable, with a casual, friendly atmosphere.
Photo by Rihana Samouly

Meet the Artists

An artist stands confidently in a studio, surrounded by portrait paintings on wooden walls. Art supplies and brushes are scattered on tables, creating a creative and lively atmosphere.

 

Linda Brescia is a Western Sydney-based artist who investigates the banalities and complexities of everyday life experiences and rituals through painting, photography, sculpture and performance. Her practice explores dynamics around visibility and invisibility, masking, care and self-assertion.

Major projects include Linda Brescia: Holding up the Sky (2018–2019), a solo exhibition at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, Skirts (2021-2022), a C3West project through the Museum of Contemporary Art and Penrith City Council and A Girl Like You (2022), a survey exhibition of recent and newly commissioned works at Penrith Regional Gallery. 

Linda has had a long history of facilitating workshops and community projects for numerous organisations and groups and is currently working as an artist mentor with We Are Studios in Blacktown and artist facilitator for Fabric Connections at PHIVE in Parramatta. 

Linda’s work has been presented in exhibitions and programs for Artspace, Sydney; Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre; Penrith Regional Gallery; Cementa; SafARI 2014; King Street Gallery, Sydney; and MOP, Sydney. She has completed a 2021-2023 artist residency with Parramatta Artists' Studios in Rydalmere, and in 2020 Brescia was awarded the Blacktown City Art Prize for her portrait of American patron of the arts Peggy Guggenheim. Her work is held in the collections of Western Sydney University, Penrith Regional Gallery, Artcell Collection Management, Blacktown City Counci, Liverpool Powerhouse and private collections.

A woman wearing a red cardigan and cat-eye glasses stands confidently in front of a colorful mural depicting various abstract and human figures. The mural features vibrant flowers, dynamic shapes, and women in diverse poses, conveying creativity and empowerment. Her expression is poised, adding to the vibrant and artistic atmosphere.

 

Anney Bounpraseuth has been featured on ABC TV and iView, ABC Radio National, FBI Radio’s Canvas program, and in Frankie Magazine and The International Cultic Studies Association journal. Since 2001 she has exhibited in galleries across NSW with solo shows at Fairfield City Museum and Art Gallery and Bankstown Arts Centre, with work held in local and international private collections.

The Western Terrace is a series of creative gatherings, performances and workshops taking place underneath the golden hour, as the sun sets, facing West, thinking West. Imagining the Western Terrace as an extension of their own homes, gardens and balconies, the series features artists, authors, filmmakers, musicians and community sharing domestic ritual collectively.