sports - Textiles the fabric of art

Textiles the fabric of art

MAY 2007 — VOLUME 5 ISSUE 5

Humans’ attraction to one another is intrinsic.

Social gatherings are an integral part of life. People desire contact with others, getting together for reasons which often result in more than merry-making—sometimes the outcome is art.

This is definitely the case for the Rivervalley Quilters, who since 1998 have been meeting twice a month to share their secrets of dexterity and passion for textile arts, and ultimately to create finely-sewn quilts. Their work is currently part of an exhibition presented by the Kamloops Museum and Archives called Threads of Tradition: Treasures of the Rivervalley Quilters, where the theme is needle arts and the artifacts on display are eclectic—spinning wheels from the 1870’s, a quilt made for a dog, pincushions from the 1950’s, samplers by young ladies of Victorian England and contemporary crafting in the form of woven coverlets and a quilt fashioned from silk ties.

Combining both practical and aesthetic values, sewing and in particular quilting, has had a long relationship with society—the quilt has been central to human comfort, keeping out the cold and warming the heart.

“The thing about quilting is it has a very long and meaningful tradition in North America—it all ties into the pioneer culture,” explains Dennis Oomen, curator of the Kamloops Museum and Archives, who notes quilting’s an activity where something useful could be made out of scraps, and historically women could get together in sometimes-isolated communities.

“It was also used as an opportunity for courting,” explains Oomen, saying people have always had a need to get together.

Needle art in all its forms is weaving its way through Kamloops this month, with displays at various venues including the Quilt BC 2007 show, the Appliqué Quilt Show at St. Andrew’s on the Square, and Fibre Expressions at the CUBE gallery at Kamloops Art Gallery.

Access Picture Framing is also joining in, hosting their annual needlework show where customers exhibit pieces they’ve had framed. Owner Jonathan Pallett says the store frames a lot of needlework, providing an outlet for creative expression in framing, as needlework lends itself to originality.

“We like to let people see what can be done with needlework,” explains Pallett. “A lot of people do it, but you rarely see a lot of it all together, you don’t often see gallery shows of needle art. It’s an enduring pastime—and whether beginner or experienced, you get a beautiful piece to put on your wall.” Sewing is usually considered a practical task, the outcome a useful object—but more often than not the end result is an exquisite article of sheer beauty.

“This is art—there’s craft, there’s design, there’s beauty, there’s utility and there’s many elements coming together,” says Oomen.

Information on the various exhibitions and shows being held this month can be found at www.canadianquilter.com, www.kamloops.ca/museum and www.accesspictureframing.com.

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