3 minute read
CRAFTING CONSCIENCE
CRAFTING CONSCIENCE
July 9 - October 1, 2016
From the original guilds, through utopian societies, arts and craft movements, hippy communes, to craftivism, there is a long tradition of craftspeople making both craft work and radical statements. Crafting Conscience examines some of the more compelling, complex and troubling social issues of our time. Topics include current issues happening both near and afar: the Syrian refugee crisis, environmental causes such as the conservation of natural habitats, greed and overconsumption, political freedom, gender roles and more.
Ever since I started working in textile it would appear that I can’t keep quiet! Whether I am looking at sexuality and LGBT rights or making some statement about being a man, or complaining about arts funding cuts - when I have needle and thread in hand…off I go expressing opinions! As my late mother-in-law asked “Don’t you ever shut up? - Matt Gould
Echo 2 is a hollow large-scale head composed of terracotta clay and resin. The image represented is that of a young child…The impetuous for this work stems from recent news broadcasts of the Syrian refuge crisis, and more specifically, from images and audio describing the effect the tragedy is having on young children. The death of Alan Kurdy, in particular, affected me deeply. As a father of two young children, I wanted to consider the experience of “the other” and how it both relates and differs from my own lived experience and sense of self. - Andrew Ackerman
Not Everyone Has A House started with 8 stenciled houses. When arranged in a traditional quilting 9 patch configuration there was an empty space, which made sense to me because not everyone has a house. This empty space invites contemplation. Is it a dream of a home not yet realized, or the loss of a house? - Margie Davidson
By constructing organisms from plastic and Styrofoam, which share the same source as petroleum, I connect consequences of consumption of fossil fuels in our society with the beauty and fragility of the natural world. - Eveline Kolijn
Participating artists: Andrew Ackerman (Callander, ON), Laura Ajayi (Athabasca), PJ Anderson (Winnipeg, MB), Ilse Anysas-Salkauskas (Cochrane), Brenda Danbrook (Opal), Margie Davidson (Edmonton), Matt Gould (Red Deer), Leah Gravells (Edmonton), Barbara Heller (Vancouver, BC), Eveline Kolijn (Calgary), Ken Lumbis (Grande Prairie), Dana Roman (Canmore), Fei Su (Edmonton)
