Fabric artist R. Leslie Forbes opens Fabrinata exhibition at Osoyoos gallery

Fabric artist R. Leslie Forbes poses by her triptych “West Coast Moment” at her Fabrinata show at The Art Gallery Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire Photo)

Osoyoos fabric artist R. Leslie Forbes is showing her work at The Art Gallery Osoyoos from April 9 to April 30, 2022 in her solo show titled Fabrinata.

She “paints” with fabric, wool, threads and other media to create boldly coloured, large fantastic scenes. She dies her fabrics to create her desired colour palette.

Forbes has enjoyed a diverse and rewarding career in teaching, educational television and as a pre-school founder and director. This was followed by 20 years in marketing and interior design in the housing industry.

Her passions were weaving, quilting and travel, as she raised a family. Photographs of her world travels have inspired her art, which features landscapes and architecture.

The Art Gallery Osoyoos is located at 8713 Main Street, Osoyoos, just west of Town Hall. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Covid safety precautions are in place.

Click on thumbnail images below to see in Virtual Gallery. Use arrow keys to flip through images. Click on images to see title at top.

“Clematis Dance” and “Crane Magic” are two fibre artworks by R. Leslie Forbes showing at The Art Gallery Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“Garden Treasure,” “Suspended,” and “Spotted Lake” are three fibre artworks by R. Leslie Forbes. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“Succumbing to the Elements,” and “Quail Convention” are two fibre art pieces by R. Leslie Forbes. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“Ode to the Tour de France,” and “Muskoka Morning” are fibre artworks by R. Leslie Forbes. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“Waterlily Spiritual Enlightenment,” and “Sunrise Salutations” by R. Leslie Forbes decorate the back room at The Art Gallery Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“Prairie Sentinels,” a fibre art piece by R. Leslie Forbes, pays tribute to the disappearing grain elevators. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“On a Winter’s Day,” and “Autumn Vineyard” are two fibre art pieces by R. Leslie Forbes. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“Explorations,” and “Puddles” are two colourful fibre art pieces by R. Leslie Forbes. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“Chasing the Wind,” and “Exuberance” are two colourful fibre art pieces by R. Leslie Forbes. (Richard McGuire Photo)
“Magical Evening” is a colourful fibre artwork by R. Leslie Forbes on display at The Art Gallery Osoyoos though it’s in a private collection and is not listed for sale. (Richard McGuire Photo)
This fibre artwork, “Electric Avenue,” by R. Leslie Forbes, is on display in her Fabrinata exhibition at The Art Gallery Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire Photo)
This triptych, “West Coast Moment,” appears below a banner for Fabrinata – Paintings in Fabric, the fibre art exhibition by R. Leslie Forbes at The Art Gallery Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire Photo)
A card introduces Fabrinata – Paintings in Fabric, the show by R. Leslie Forbes at The Art Gallery Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Fabrinata – Paintings in Fabric by Osoyoos artist R. Leslie Forbes runs from April 9 – April 30, 2022 at The Art Gallery Osoyoos, 8713 Main Street.

Author: Richard McGuire

Richard McGuire is an Osoyoos photographer who worked at the Osoyoos Times between 2012 and 2018, first as reporter and then as editor. He has a long career in journalism as well as research, communication and management at the House of Commons in Ottawa and in the federal government.