Mirka’s fine silk scarves are not commercially available by retail, either online or at any outlet, anywhere in the world.
Mirka’s fine silk scarves are not commercially available by retail, either online or at any outlet, anywhere in the world.
Weaving a masterpiece
Self-taught in the rare art of fine silk handweaving, Mirka’s passion for precision, discipline and beauty has led to international recognition of her work at the highest levels.
Born in Orange County, California in 1957, Mirka emigrated with her family to Australia in 1968, later studying classical violin under Jan Sedivka at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music. After attaining her Degree, she embarked on a diverse and colourful musical career. This included 17 years with the Australian Opera and work in the TV, film and recording industry in Sydney, performing live and recorded backing to Artists such as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, John Denver, Sir Cliff Richard, Michael Hutchence, Bernadette Peters, Barry White, Noiseworks, to name just a few. She also performed and toured nationally and internationally as Leader of the Elektra String Quartet, one of the most avant-garde ensembles in the country.
It was during her career that she became fascinated with the traditional hand-weaving system, studying part-time under Peter Townley in 1984. She then worked alone for many years to develop and perfect her technique, later running her own design studio in Sydney’s prestigious Strand Arcade, where she specialised in creating couture garments of her own design using her original hand-woven fabric.
Celebrating an artist
Then, in 2002, Mirka formally relinquished her top-level music career to dedicate herself to the discipline of fine silk weaving in the medium of the fine silk scarf, and after many years of practice, was able to qualify to access the traditionally hand-dyed silk yarns of Kyoto, Japan, which are not customarily available to foreigners.
Her original fine silk scarves have since been acquired by many prestigious museums around the world, including the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, New York (2003), the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra (2005), the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney (2009) and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (2007).
As a commissioned artist, Mirka’s fine silk scarves have also served as inter-cultural gifts, serving to represent Australia at the highest levels.
Mirka was privileged to present scarves to TRH The Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen in 2006, in the presence of H.E. The Hon. Matthew Peek, Ambassador of Australia to Denmark, on the occasion of the Royal Christening. These gifts were commissioned by the Government of NSW. The following year, she again presented a gift at the Amalienborg Palace. A scarf for H.M. Queen Margrethe of Denmark, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s birthday.
In 2007, Mirka presented gifts of scarves to HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al Qasimi, Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, at the Palace in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), accompanied by H.E. The Hon. Jeremy Bruer, Ambassador of Australia for the UAE.
Mirka was approached to weave a fine silk scarf for President Barack Obama in 2007 and this scarf was later exhibited at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum in 2008. A succeeding commission in 2009 by the Australian Government was made for Mirka to create a companion piece as a gift for the First Lady, Mrs Michell Obama.
She was deeply honoured when later invited to present these scarves at The White House, accompanied by H.E. The Hon. Kim Beazley, Ambassador of Australia to the United States of America (USA), in 2015.
Mirka has also designed and made fine silk scarves as gifts for TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, in commemoration of TRH Royal Tour of Australia in 2015. She presented the gifts, officially received by Clarence House, at the High Commission of Australia in London, together with the H.E. The Hon. Alexander Downer, High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016.
Through her international profile as an artist, Mirka is both preserving and raising awareness of this age-old, rapidly disappearing craft. She has spoken about her work on a number of occasions, including at a private showing at the residence of the Australian Ambassador to the USA in 2004, following a very successful fund-raising Fashion Show at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. for the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research. Through the donation of three of her original silk scarves at the charity auction, she was able to benefit this worthy Institute.
In 2006 she was invited to speak about her work at the Centre for Textile Research at Copenhagen University in Denmark. Then in 2007, was selected to represent Australia in the UAE during the Inaugural Delegation of Australian Women. She was interviewed for the ‘Kyoto Journal’ in 2009 and has since appeared in various TV News broadcasts about her achievements.
A love for fine things
Mirka’s impeccable distinctions in the medium of her work stand alone in the arena of modern textiles. Through her continued cultural endeavours and uncompromising dedication to excellence, she hopes to elevate traditional handweaving from craft to the realm of fine art, thus inspiring a new generation of dedicated handweavers. The silk scarves Mirka creates are individually designed on-loom -- no design is ever repeated, as she feels that the essence of creativity lies in continual expansion and exploration of design possibilities.
She is currently writing a book about her journey as a unique Australian artist.
Mirka’s fine silk scarves are not commercially available by retail, either online or at any outlet, anywhere in the world.