Fragments on an Education was an site specific installation where I made graphite rubbings of surfaces around Concordia University with which I created a message in code to reveal injustices in the public education system.  I wrote about it here on the blog before it had officially been installed, so now I have photos to share.   

For the installation I invited people to the coded message (made with pigment prints on cotton) by giving them a card which contained the legend on the front and a fill-in-the-blanks on the back (as seen in the photos - but don't enlarge them if you want to decode it yourself).  The website that accompanies this project allows for online visitors to decode it too and has the extra feature of a video hint. Here's a link to the site:  http://fragmentsofaneducation.weebly.com/

This is my first Montreal yarn bomb.  It's made with a  mixture of acrylic and wool yarns (the red is hand-dyed).  Can you guess where this is?  I'm interested in seeing what the winter weather does to it -- if it stays up that long.


more photos here

Anchor/Cradle

When an anchor doesn't do its job, it may take on another.

Sometimes you can expect things from, and be disappointed by the people closest to you, neglecting to acknowledge the gifts they have offered you.  Conversely you may perceive that you have nothing to offer, failing to recognize what you have already given.

Anchor/Cradle is a sculpture that I completed in March.  It was possibly the most enjoyable piece that I made all year; somehow I was able to complete each step without deciding what the next step would be.  So, the process was very contemplative and relaxing.  The fabric began as yardage printed with family lines.  I then tore it in one continuous strip and bundled it.  I contemplated leaving it as a bundle since I loved it so much.  I also considered creating a large rosary with the fabric strips but wasn't super happy with the result.  So the remainder of the bundle was woven into my welded anchor/cradle structure, with the rosary knots left to hang from the finished sculpture. The metal structure manifested itself in a matter of days.  Since I had scrap metal in my locker from a previous project it came together quickly (thank you Concordia for having an amazing welding studio!).  

In making this piece I learned that I do not need to know what will happen next in the creative process; to let go of control.  Somehow the materials always seem know what to do.


The sculpture is about 68 inches wide, 23 inches deep and 23 inches high, not including the neck

I've begun a separate blog where I'll be sharing about the workshops I teach. 

Tomorrow I leave for the NWT to begin my dream job; teaching textiles to elderly women in the Canadian Arctic. Check out my posts about it on the new blog here.

I went to the gallery today to take some shots of my piece in the show.  I really need to get myself a better camera so I don't have to continue to borrow the ones from the school (which don't come with manuals).  Or I could learn how to use Photoshop since most of my trouble was with colour balance and light.  Anyways, here they are with most of the rest of the show in the bunch as well.

The show is up until the 26th...

Galerie Diagonale
5455 Rue de Gaspe
Montreal, QU

Here's a map of where I'm going; Ulukhaktok. It's waaaay up there; past the arctic circle, and right by the ocean.  Amazing.

You may have noticed that in my last post I mentioned a six week program but only gave you the gist of four.  The last two weeks are for my students to do whatever projects they desire with me there to mentor and assist.  The program is called the Ulukhaktok Handicraft Project.  As far as I know it's the first of its kind; accommodating the elderly specifically.  These ladies are master craftswomen in other media I'm sure, so I'll certainly be learning a lot from them too.

Knitting projects I have up my sleeve for them are this cabled shawl, this lace shawlette and these mittens to name a few.  For the past few weeks I've been knitting instructional samples like crazy.

I've been working on a site-specific installation which speaks to the western education system, and more specifically its lack of inclusiveness to students with alternative learning styles.  I wish my creative spirit was nurtured by my teachers in high school and definitely see how my poor marks in high school affected my self esteem when considering college.  Six years after secondary school I got up the courage to give it a shot  to discover I could excel in academics in the right environment and with the right motivations ie.goals I made for myself as opposed to ones dictated to me.  Unfortunately not everyone who has had similar public school experiences as me realizes their potential.  In Fragments of an Education (working title), I'm grieving this loss.

In creating a code made up of rubbings of textures from around Concordia University and then with them making messages (the first being a quote form Sir. Ken Robinson) which need to be decoded I'm hoping to create an experience for participants.  Whether the participant has felt victimized by the public school system or not I hope to demystify some of the preconceptions brought about by western imperialistic ways of thinking which put the population into two limiting categories; intelligent or unintelligent.  The messages I choose are meant to make the viewer think differently about the judgments that they place on others or themselves while also acting as messages of hope and encouragement.

I will be installing this At Concordia University next week sometime with an accompanying website which will give those you who are not in Montreal a chance to de-code it too.

I keep on meaning to do a post about this upcoming adventure of mine, but it is such a big deal and I've had so little time lately to, well do anything but school work and prepare for this adventure, that I've known that I cannot capture it all in one post.  So I'll do it in installments. 

The gist is I'M GOING TO THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TO TEACH TEXTILES FOR 6 WEEKS!!!! 

I'm so excited that it almost got me off track with school while I was doing all the ordering for it.  Yes, there were a lot of orders to be made.  Since there are no yarn shops up there to save me from forgetting something I had to think of everything I'd need for a two week knitting workshop, one week knitting machine workshop and a one week weaving workshop (eek!).  It was a dream planning all the lesson plans and figuring out what yarns I'd need.  Cara at Birkeland Bros was a huge help in helping me decide on replacement yarns for ones she didn't carry.  I ordered everything from her (except the knitting machines); yarn, looms, hand-knitting implements and accessories as well as sliver and spinning wheels for a spinning workshop that will occur before I arrive.  I'm really excited about the Sweetgeorgia sock yarn that I ordered!  I also got some roving from her for the spinning.  Wheeee!  On top of all of this wonderfulness I was told that a large donation of Qiviut was made to my portion of the program (I'll further explain the entire 15 week program in the near future).  It is a mix of 2 ply and 3 ply yarns that have been mixed with silk for strength.  So special!

Are you ready for the kicker?  I get to teach elderly women!  Yep.  I even received an email with a picture of them which was beyond adorable.  I know that this is going to be a special experience.

I leave April 8th!!!

Last night was a total success!  TRACES got filled up.  The location I was in helped a lot as it was right at the entrance of the 3rd floor. With my simple written directions (thanks Jenna Dawn for the french translation) people were happy to participate.  I even took some panels down later in the evening to replace with clean paper for more space.  Tomorrow I go back down to the space to pick up the materials so I can make something sculptural for the organizers Harvey and Judith to have as a keepsake. Not sure what I'm going to do yet, maybe baskets to match the ones in the installation...

Here are some not-so-successful photos of the installation in process...(a bit fuzzy)