Summer travel memories this November shares an article written by Mary T. in the Threads Along the Peace Newsletter. Thank you to Mary for a wonderful article and pictures.
Newfoundland Trip
The logo for 2014 Travel Brochure for
Newfoundland and Labrador is:
“ Is it possible to feel at the same time lost
and found?”
“LOST: stress FOUND: peace”
Terry and I found that to be true when we
finally completed our travels to Newfoundland this spring. A few years ago my
husband and I travelled across Canada , but ran out of time in Newfoundland. We
had a good visit of the West Coast then but vowed to return to see the East
Coast another day…. We were lucky enough to make that dream come true this
spring.
I thought I’d share some of the Arts and Crafts we saw on our travels….
Our first week was spent on the Bonavista
Peninsula a beautiful, wild place. We were pleased to see hundreds of
Icebergs as we hiked along the cliffs
overlooking the Atlantic Ocean ; always keeping a keen eye out for Umbilicaria
Lichens of course!
While visiting Trinity Museum in Trinity
NFLD, we met a lovely staff member
busily working on a “stained glass look" hooked rug. It was a group project as all staff members took their turn. She
explained that in Nfld, the most common material at this time for hooking rugs is cotton
jersey fabric or old t-shirts recycled. (It is interesting to note that other
provinces in the east use cut wool strips and or yarn and historically old
nylons were used.) The lady explained
that she likes to have the back of the
work look just as neat as the front! ( note to myself)
At the
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Gift Shop, we found many beautiful knitted items that
had been made as part of NONIA (Newfoundland Outport Nursing and Industrial
Association). It was founded in 1920 by the Grenfell Association to assist in
providing medical care to the out ports of Nfld and continues on today as a
not-for–profit cottage industry producing hand knit items that reflect the
spirit and tradition of Newfoundland and Labrador. The main NONIA shop can be found in St Johns.
While visiting St Johns, there was art,
music to be seen everywhere. It appears that the Government of Nfld and
Labrador support the arts as the
evidence is everywhere to be seen. We were very pleased to catch an exhibition entitled “Knit Fast Dye Yarn “at the Anna
Templeton Centre for Craft, Art and
Design. We had an opportunity to meet
the artists and I have included some of the photos of the students
work. Mary Dekker knit a typical “salt
style house” showing the outside of the house, the structure ( including a
little mouse scurrying along the timbers) as well as the written account of
activities/experiences she has had in the home.
Jessica McDonald wove a dress which is a continuation of
drapes.
Alexe Hanlon wove the “Woolly
Whale” which is life size!
And Kumi Stoddart wove the m’s and o’s scarf dyed with indigo and inspired by the environment/nature in Nfld.
It reminded me of the ice bergs contrasted with the blue ocean.
At the MUN Botanical Garden in St Johns we
enjoyed the garden art work created by Liz Iklose.
The
ROOMS is an unusual, interesting, beautiful building overlooking St John’s
harbor which combines Archives/Art Gallery/ Museum. We were pleased to see the International
Grenfell Association Exhibition as
well as the art of Rockwell Kent, and
Pam Hall Exhibition. There were a few
David Blackwood pieces there as well. For more information, just google the
names of these artists. Pam Hall’s artwork is interactive.
Of
course we had to tour the brewing company at Quidi Vidi and got to taste excellent “Ice Berg" beer
made with ice berg water thousands of years old and toured the Plantation Craft
Studio. Again an opportunity to visit with the artists as they worked. Check
out these web sites to see for yourself some of the art made there. Ragmaw by Megan Natasha (www.ragmaw.com)Graham Blair’s hand
carved prints (www.grahamblairwoodcuts.com ) and Renee
Scott ‘s hand printed textiles (www.brindylinens.com)
Finally I want to share an experience while touring the archaeological
site/interpretive centre at the Colony
of Avalon in Ferryland. Excellent! We met a young woman who worked as a period actor in the kitchen. She
showed us her drop spindle and
demonstrated some of her work. She had taught herself to spin from You Tube. She was highly motivated and I
was impressed by her tenacity to keep
trying despite working with a very rough heavy spindle and rough wool. I
thought about her that night and the
next day Terry and I went back to visit her
and offered her a lovely light spindle, a shoe box with straws and
directions on how to ply her wool and some very nice Shetland roving. She was thrilled and said I’d made her day.
But really, she made my day as it is such a good feeling to pass on the knowledge of spinning with others.
Who knows where she will go with it!
Well,
there was so much more that we experienced, and I’m sure there is much
more yet to see! I am sorry we didn’t
get a chance to visit Claire in
the north east at Wesleyville (also
home of the famous artist David
Blackwood). Maybe we can pass the talking
stick over to Claire to share with us what she has seen there this summer! And…maybe
our travels aren’t yet complete…. I
would love to go back another time to
visit the wonderful people and explore beautiful northern Newfoundland and Labrador!
Mary
T.
Missing our dear friends: Marion who moved to Spruce Grove and Sue who moved to Grand Forks. Until we meet again....
Poppy display at North Peace Cultural Centre lobby, Fort St. John, until November 18. In remembrance of fallen Canadian Armed Forces and in remembrance of all victims of war....Lest we forget....
Spring 2015 Spin-in Fort St. John.
April 10-25, 2015 North Peace Spinners and Weavers Fibre Fling at Peace Gallery North, Fort St. John.
September 2015 Tapestry Workshop with Elaine Duncan at Blueberry Bible Camp, north of Fort St. John. Five day or two day workshops.
Remember the Theo Moorman sample exchange for the Spring 2015 meeting in Fort St. John.
Remember to send Rene articles and area reports for the December Threads Along the Peace Newsletter.
