"When Thirteen Moons Entwine"
a textile arts event in the Outaouais
late summer/early fall 2010
integrating textile arts with the natural environment
and the mythology of the thirteen moons
"When Thirteen Moons Entwine" is a professional textile arts event, inspired by the legends of the thirteen moons of the natural lunar calendar. It is an outdoor laboratory that brings together established professional textile artists with young emerging artists in the creation of textile arts installations along a scenic walking path. This festive event includes exhibitions, workshops and artist's talks at Moon Rain Centre in the Gatineau Hills in the Outaouais region of West Quebec, and collaborates with major exhibition centres in the region to present textile arts exhibitions during the late summer and early fall of 2010.
"When Thirteen Moons Entwine" presents four related textile arts aspects: installations, workshops, exhibitions and artist's talks
1.
"Mother Earth Weaves the Thirteen Moons"
outdoor textile arts installations inspired by the lunar calendar integrated with the natural environment at Moon Rain Centre
Thirteen textile arts installations will be created along an out-of-doors walking path. Each installation will be created by a team composed of a professional artist and a young emerging artist. The two artists may collaborate to create a work together, or they may each do their own unique work that reflects the dynamic or harmonious aspect which links them.
The textile arts installations will correspond to the thirteen moons of the lunar calendar. For example the calendar of the Algonquin people names lunar months as: the month when water birds lay their eggs; the month when strawberries ripen; the month when the leaves change colour, etc.
The scenic walking path begins at the Studio at Moon Rain Centre, crosses the field, follows the stream to the waterfall, makes a circuit along the edge of the forest at the foot of the mountain, then crosses the footbridge and returns to the Studio.
2.
Workshops and Professional Development
This aspect of the event offers textile arts workshops and professional development sessions given by outstanding professional artists who are renowned both in Quebec and internationally. These workshops will benefit all textile artists but will be of particular interest to emerging artists wishing to advance their skills and techniques, broaden their professionalism and develop their creativity in textile arts. These workshops are intended to provide an open door to the professional milieu in textile arts in Quebec and Canada.
In addition, a series of mini-ateliers will be open to the public. Visitors of all ages to " When Thirteen Moons Entwine" will be able to sample and try their hands at a variety of textile arts techniques. Families and children will have the opportunity to try out: weaving, felting, fabric printing, natural dyeing, drop-spindle spinning, lace-making, etc. These workshops are intended to share traditional and heritage textile techniques.
3.
Exhibitions
International :
The 9th International Triennale of Mini-textiles with the theme "Avec ou sans eau / With or Without Water " , curated by the Museum of Contemporary Tapestry in Angers, France, will be presented at Galerie Montcalm, the City of Gatineau’s prestigeous exhibition centre in Maison du Citoyen, from August 26th to October 10th, 2010.
National :
"The Thirteen Moons", a group exhibition of works by Quebec, Canadian and international textile artists who are participating in the event, “When Thirteen Moons Entwine” will be presented in the Studio Gallery at Moon Rain Centre from September 1st to October 10th, 2010.
Regional :
"Northern Fibres / Fibres Boréales", woven works by a collective of six textile artists who are members of Moon Rain Centre, will be exhibited at the City of Gatineau’s art gallery dedicated to the crafts, Espace Pierre Debain from September 1st to October 10th, 2010.
"The Living Tapestry", hand woven tapestries by Thoma Ewen will be exhibited in the Trinity Gallery, Shenkman Arts Centre from August 26th to September 28th, 2010.
4.
Artist’s Talks
Artist’s talks will be given by outstanding artists in the field of textile arts. Carole Baillargeon, internationally known textile artist and director of l’Ecole des métiers d’art in Quebec City will participate in "When Thirteen Moons Entwine".