Hi, my name is Silke Fligge. I was born in Germany and came to Winnipeg with my mother when I was 6 years old. Growing up I learnt to knit hats, scarves, and mitts. My mother was an excellent seamstress so she taught me embroidery and how to sew clothes. I first started with aprons and then skirts, blouses, and dresses.
After high school, I moved to Vancouver with a friend and loved going to the Art Gallery and all the small art studios. Most of my career has been in the Insurance Industry. In the evenings I always liked to do something so I took pottery classes, flower arranging, and acrylic painting.
We moved to Burnaby in 1999 after living in Langley for 20 years. A friend of mine suggested that I volunteer at The Burnaby Arts Council. I got involved with the fibre art department and we knit baby hats and blankets for the Burnaby General Hospital and Hospice. Working with the fibre arts got me started on making felted bags which you knit and then wash in hot water and shrink them and shape into bags and hats. I also taught art classes in wreath arrangements, Santa’s, and folk art painting.
Glimpse Lake is currently my home and has been since 2007. We’ve had the property since 1980 and decided to move here full-time. Going for daily walks with my dog Rex always makes me think of new ideas for art. I took an excellent photography course at NVCAC and now I’m learning how to use my camera again. I’m also trying my hand at watercolours, art will always be part of my daily life.
I’m glad to be part of the NVCAC; it’s made up of talented artisans and dedicated council members that keep art alive and vibrant in our community.