CRAFT COLLABORATIONS PAGE 36

from Alberta Craft Magazine 40th Anniversary Issue 2020 - 2021

THREADING BLACK PAGE 26

Craft Collaborations

40th Anniversary Fundraiser

September 10-October 14, 2020

As part of Alberta Craft Council’s 40th anniversary, we celebrated the endless talent and vision of our members and community partners with a very special exhibition and online event to coincide with the provincial Month of the Artist. As the world abruptly shifted and bowed under the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in early Spring, we launched a series of digital Monday MeetUps as a way to hear from and engage with Albertan craft artists. The response we received was almost universal; orders cancelled and the drive to create ebbing in the face of an uncertain economic future.

In support of our community, the Alberta Craft Council came up with a way to inspire, showcase and ultimately pay our artists with a very special project. The Craft Collaborations fundraiser brought artists from across disciplines together as either an existing duo, or adventuresome individual paired with an equally adventurous partner to create one of a kind artworks. This unique fundraiser ensured that each artist pairing had the opportunity to receive 50% of the retail cost of their project and all of Alberta could celebrate the enormous creative talent that this province is rich in. In lieu of our popular Twas the Night (Edmonton) and Let it Snow (Calgary) in person fundraisers, we shifted our focus to an online fundraiser which also included popular curated Private Shopping Nights packages. The 40th anniversary Craft Collaborations fundraiser ran from September 10 – October 14th with bidders from as far away as Ohio and a total of $12,538 raised. Of this amount over $4000 was paid directly back to many of the artists, with many other of the participating artists opting to donate their sales portion of the auction revenue back to the Alberta Craft Council, to a total of artist direct donations of over $6000.

The funds raised by the auction will go to the Alberta Craft Council for the continuation of our advocacy and promotion of fine craft in this province and ultimately give back to our members through exhibition and engagement opportunities. We cannot thank you, our supporters, the 47 amazing auction artists and community partners enough for visiting, sharing, bidding, donating. Over the course of the fundraiser we hosted two virtual events filled with lively craft conversations, and although this isn’t the same as our traditional in person fundraisers, we were so delighted to engage with you.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

Mindy Andrews & Lisa McGrath, Michelle Atkinson & Janine Samuelson, Erin Berry & Chris Savage, Gillian Boon & Suzette Knudsen, Anna Burger-Martindale & William Miles, Annette ten Cate, Sarabeth Carnat & Jill Nuckles, Dawn Detarando & Brian McArthur, Jennea Frischke & Jackie Anderson, Karen Kryzan & John SmithJones, James Lavoie & Brenda Malkinson, KJ MacAlister & Saskia Aarts, Kim McCollum & Angela Kelly, Siri McCormick & Edward McCormick, Darren Petersen & Leah Petrucci, Shona Rae & Cindy Lee, Dana Roman & Mary Lynne McCutcheon, Dalia Saafan & Andrea Itzeck, Todd Safronovich & Simon Wroot, Dale Shippit & Keith Walker, Barbara Tipton & Bruce Pearson, Nicole Tremblay & Deanna McGillivray & Wildlife Distillery, Jessica Van De Brand & Qiuchen Ji, Kari Woo & Natalie Gerber, Sara Young & Ramona Stinson, Todd Safronovich & Strathcona Spirits Distillery. In a time of unprecedented economic strain Alberta’s creative community has once again exemplified how incredibly supportive and generous you truly are. Thank you from all of us at the Alberta Craft Council.

I think this work is pretty stellar and it will be credited in changing the direction of my studio practice

-Kari Woo

Craft Collaborations was such a success with our artists and supporters that we are making it an annual event. Artists are all ready busy collaborating on pieces for this years fundraiser happening in November/December 2021.

This page: Hanging By A Thread Study 2, Kari Woo & Natalie Gerber Reversible earring, textured and fabricated sterling silver components, epoxy, cording natural dyed linen thread, cotton cord

Opposite page (clockwise): Erin Berry & Chris Savage The Messengers Message Fell on Deaf Ears, Porcelain, underglaze pencil, glaze Angela Kelly and Kim McCollum, Handwoven wool and cotton. Woven on a traditional 4 shaft loom

Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers of Alberta:

Endings and New Beginnings

When combing through the Alberta Craft Council’s archives, there are a certain names and organizations that tend to pop up repeatedly. They are clear community builders in the Alberta cultural scene. Joan Vanterpool of the Alberta Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers certainly fits into that category. Serving as representative of the Hand Weavers, Spinners and Dyers of Alberta (HWSDA), she was one of the founders of the Alberta Craft Council (ACC) and sat on the ACC’s board from 1981-83. That is just one early instance of the many ways the ACC and HWSDA’s histories have intersected over the past forty five years. In the Fall of 2019, the HWSDA made the difficult decision to dissolve their organization, their board members Lynne Cowe Falls and Judy Matthews reached out to ACC Executive Director Jenna Stanton about partnering together to ensure HWDSA’s legacy lives on. While both parties are sorrowful about the ending of a great organization, many wonderful conversations have ensued over the last year and a half about how to best to carry on the groups mandate and legacy. Together the three worked with the Edmonton Community Foundation to set up the HWSDA Fibre Arts Endowment which will continue to support fibre artists in Alberta for generations to come. The endowment will support a new Fibre Arts Award celebrating the legacy of the Hand Weavers, Spinners and Dyers of Alberta. The $2000 award will be part of the biennale Alberta Craft Awards and will honour fibre artists sharing skills and creativity with the broader community. This award is open to emerging to established individuals, collectives, and/or guilds who have developed a project over the previous two years that shares fibre skills as part of a community building project. This award will shine the light on the many creative community building projects and the worthy individuals, groups, and guilds from across the province who continue to share and grow the passion for the fibre arts. This is the second ACC endowment project with the Edmonton Community Foundation, the Linda Stanier & Family Memorial Award for Excellence in Ceramics is also an endowed award through the foundation. Both endowments are open to contributions and continue to grow through ongoing donations and the wise investments and stewardship provided by the foundation.

The History of the Hand Weavers, Spinners and Dyers of Alberta

Written by the HWSDA executive For 45 years, the volunteer run organization, Hand Weavers, Spinners and Dyers of Alberta worked to fulfill their mission to foster and promote the development of fine craft in the Province of Alberta for both amateur and professional craftspeople. Membership, including individuals and guilds, spanned all of Alberta and into Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Seventy-four original members grew to three hundred at the guild’s peak. Keen weavers and spinners from around Alberta envisioned, and structured, an organization dedicated to skills-based learning, the pursuit of excellence and developing a province-wide fibre community. Financial support came from members’ dues and operating grants from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Countless volunteers have given their time and skills to ensure the smooth running and fiscal stability of the Guild. HWSDA held a conference and AGM annually. Most years the conference was hosted by local guilds, giving the HWSDA membership the opportunity to travel around the province. Conferences became three-day events with technical and design workshops, renowned speakers, inspiring juried shows, helpful vendors and delicious banquets. Members, inspired by learning more about their craft, reveled in a chance to be connected, to touch base with fibre friends and to stock up on supplies. Weekend retreats were also held on fibre topics giving members a chance to connect, to learn and to teach, between conferences.

Quarterly newsletters were an important way to share and to connect with members. Local guilds kept us all informed about their activities, members wrote interesting articles, the executive reported to the membership. Later the organization’s website also served as a hub for connecting and keeping up with the fibre events happening across the province. There was an extensive lending library for books and magazines, and for archival materials, which now is housed (and available to the public) at Olds College. To fulfill its mission to develop and foster fine craft in Alberta, scholarships and grants were awarded to individual HWSDA members-- who shared their learning with their guilds and through the newsletter--and to local guilds who hosted workshops for their members.

In 1986 a collaboration between Olds College and HWSDA led to the Fibre Week Master Spinner Program-- the first class graduated in 1990. The ongoing course has been taught off campus as well, in such places as Ontario, British Columbia, Washington, Arizona, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. Graduates became teachers and travelled, to teach, through Canada and the USA. In 1992, HWSDA also worked with Olds College to design a Master Weaver course. Later, because of declining enrolment for Fibre Week, the course was reclaimed by HWSDA and redesigned (and mentored and marked) by our volunteer expert weavers, as the Weaving Certificate Program. In 2007 the program returned to Olds College, to become the ongoing Master Weaver Program. HWSDA continued its support with financial contributions and with curriculum development until 2016. This program too has been offered in other Provinces, and in the USA.

The Weaving Certificate Program, and the ongoing Master Spinner and Master Weaver programs, are lasting legacies of the life of HWSDA. With recent economic and social changes, the membership dropped significantly, resulting in a difficult decision on September 22, 2019 to dissolve the organization. We are thrilled to partner with the Alberta Craft Council to forward our remaining funds to create the HWSDA Fibre Arts Endowment, that will support fibre artists in the province for many years to come.

Upcoming Exhibitions & Events

More in-depth coverage of upcoming exhibitions will be featured in the next issue of Alberta Craft Magazine. For the most up-to-date information on exhibitions and events follow us on Facebook or sign up for What’s In our free customer E-Newsletter.

ALBERTA CRAFT GALLERY EDMONTON 10186-106 Street NW, Edmonton AB Feature Gallery

KITSCH: CRAFT SO BAD IT’S GOOD | August 14- October 30, 2021

Creators from across the province kitsch it up with humorous works that and will make you laugh and cringe all at once - crossing lines and breaking rules. Participating artists: Jo Anna Lange (Image: Bozo Lamp), Abby Light, Ananda Skywalker, Breanna Barrington, Hellen Beamish, Annette ten Cate, Carly Hines, Ciara Jayne, Corinne Cowell, Dale Learner, Donna Brunner, Ellie Shuster, Emily Nash, Erik Lee, Erika Dueck, Jennea Frischke, Jennifer Ilanes, Kaleb Romano, Karla Mather Cocks, Susan Kristopherson, Laura O’Connor, Lauren Chipeur, Margaret Hall, Matt Gould, Matthew O’Reilly, Meghan Wagg, Mireille Perron, Pourceline Frit, Puck Janes, Rochelle Hammond, Ruth-Anne French, Sandra Lamouche, Sarah Norquay, Sara Young, Sarabeth Carnat, Shona Rae, Siri McCormick, Susannah Windrum, William Miles

Discovery Gallery

MARGINALIA | July 10- August 21, 2021 An exhibition of ceramics and drawings by lifelong friends Erin Berry (Toronto, ON) and Chris Savage (Calgary, AB) depicting narratives built through a hybridizing of the old and the new. Incorporating popular cultural aesthetics with classical designs that reflect upon the persistence and convergence of mythology and conspiracy theories in a playful manner.

DEMOCRACY OF JEWELLERY Curated by Kari Woo | August 28- October 2, 2021 Jewellery is one of humankinds earliest known expressions of creative endeavour beyond mere survival. How does the ready availability of DIY jewellery kits, and other such products that create widespread accessibility to jewellery making, affect the artists who participate in and advocate for the and made economy as skilled and trained makers? Participating artists: Jamie Kroeger (Image: Waterhauler) Sarah Alford, Devon Clark, Louise Perrone, Lyndsay Rice, Kari Woo

COMING UP NEXT | October 9 - November 20, 2021 National biannual emerging craft exhibition. Participating artists: Marcy Friesen (Image: Half Breed), Graham Boyd, Lael Chmelyk, Leia Guo, Esther Imm, Daniel Labutes, Jared Last, Sophia Lengle, Meng Qiu, Chen Si, Dalayce Smith, Gillian Tolliver, Adriane Vant Erve, Luke Winterhalt

KAREN CANTINE: A METALSMITH AT 80 | November 27 - January 22, 2022

An exhibition of new and past works from renowned Edmonton artist and teacher Karen Cantine that highlight the creative themes that have guided her work exploring simple, elegant forms in jewellery, holloware, and sculpture.

ALBERTA CRAFT GALLERY CALGARY 1721 - 29 Avenue SW, Suite 280 Calgary AB A.C.E. ALBERTA CRAFT EXCELLENCE | September 11- November 6, 2021

Marking the Alberta Craft Council’s 40th anniversary, the exhibition serves both to celebrate and to commemorate excellence in Alberta contemporary and traditional fine craft recognizing quality, authenticity, innovation and craftsmanship Participating Artists: Pamma FitzGerald (Image: The attic door...) Jim Etzkorn, Brian McArthur, Mackenzie Kelly-Frère, Susan Kristoferson, Liv Pedersen, Bonita Datta, Bonny Houston, Marty Kaufman, Brenda Malkinson, Jackie Anderson, Karen Cantine, Sarabeth Carnat, Albertine Crow Shoe, Charles Lewton-Brain, Shona Rae, John Smith-Jones, Simon Wroot, Kenton Jeske, Talar & Jean-Claude Préfontaine, Erin Schwab.

ALBERTA CRAFT AWARDS | November 6, 2021

The Alberta Craft Awards are designed to acknowledge individuals and groups who make significant contributions to Alberta’s fine craft culture. The five awards not only stimulate awareness and instill distinction for fine craft in Alberta, they also invigorate and give prominence to deserving artists and their work.