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CANVASs, the bi-monthly Newsletter from the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery | ||
CANVASs |
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CANVASs, Volume VI, No. 4, June July August 2003The newsletter of the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery a global prayer gardenunveiled Friday, June 13, 7:30PM(a multimedia celebration)
SPECIAL HOURS
In late 1998 I wrote Larry Miller, the executive secretary of Mennonite World Conference (MWC) in Strasbourg, France. I asked for addresses to contact Mennonite and Brethren in Christ conferences, those churches which are affiliated with the MWC, around the world. I had an idea. The idea was to inspire a large piece of art based in what was and is an important tradition for many people from an ethnic Mennonite background, quilting. But, the wish was for this piece of art to reflect where the global community is today -- based more outside an ethnically Mennonite background than within it. I wanted something coming out of a tradition but resulting in something that was no longer traditional. I wanted it to be a global celebration. In order to make connections in many countries MWC was approached. Letters were sent out around the world asking if individuals would like to contribute a quilt square to the project. Over a long period, squares trickled into the gallery from many countries. I collected a few boxes full. At first I was happy to not know much about quilting. I wanted this project to be nontraditional and I know many quilters are sticklers for tradition. When I was inevitably asked technical questions I was happy to not have the answers. I did not want to restrict anyone who wanted to participate and I did not want the project to get tied down by rules and become something not as free as I wished. Eventually I realized, knowing nothing about quilting, I also had no idea what to do with all the squares that were piling up in the gallery. Thankfully Winnipeg artist Agatha Doerksen took charge of the project. Agatha is an amazingly creative person and one who does not mind taking on a daunting task. She and Ruth Maendel documented the squares. Ideas were hatched, volunteers recruited and over a period of months a “prayer garden” came into being. Agatha worked tirelessly, putting incredible hours into the project. Volunteers came to the gallery all day on several Saturdays and brought panels home to work on them there. Agatha rounded up several artists to create the finishing touches. The quilt became a quite wondrous, large installation piece encompassing 17 panels and corresponding baskets. You are invited to wander through this “prayer garden” from June 13 to 18 before it is crated to travel to Zimbabwe for the global assembly of MWC this summer. The opening on June 13 will be a multimedia event including a power point presentation running through the process of bringing the quilt together. Ray Dirks ThanksTo all the volunteers who helped make the quilt a reality. To all the women around the world who sent in squares. To Judith Dueck for documenting the volunteer Saturdays. To Ruth Maendel. Especially to Agatha Doerksen. Without her help the quilt might still simply be piles of squares in boxes. Gallery NewsOn NowSketches from Siberia: the art of Jacob Sudermann (1888-1940?) continues at the gallery until July 19. This spectacular collection by a Mennonite artist who died in Stalin’s gulag should not be missed. It is the largest collection from this period that we know of. The sheer number of artworks is amazing. The quality of the art and the spirit that shines through it, a spirit that refused to die even as the artist was lost in the gulag, are breathtaking. Up NextCanadian Caribbean Expo 2003, July 25 – August 1Two summers ago Trinidadian-Canadian June Springer brought several Caribbean women crafters to the gallery for a week long celebration of Caribbean crafts and cultures. Springer approached the gallery as the event ended and asked if it could be repeated, bigger and better, in two summer’s time. Springer and the women of Caricom Arts & Crafts Inc. will be bringing 18 crafters and artists from the Caribbean and the Caribbean-Canadian community across Canada to the gallery beginning with a grand opening celebration on July 25. Last time the gallery became a Caribbean market on one level. This summer the market will fill both levels of the gallery. It promises to be a lively week with many of the artists and crafters on hand. A wide range of crafts and artworks will be available for viewing and purchase. We are in store for a week of fun and friendly company in an environment brimming over with the creations of talented people. Don’t miss this wonderful summer event. Followed by…LeftoversGood leftovers, that is. From the ending of the Caribbean event until our next opening on September 19 artworks from past exhibits that still lurk behind walls and rest in darkened crates will come out to see the light one more time from August 8 to September 13. See art from Ethiopia, Sudan, Cuba, Uganda and Indonesia. Take a second look at art from Canada, too. Or, perhaps you missed some previous shows. Here is an opportunity to catch up on what you missed. There will be no opening for this exhibit. September OpeningJean Wiens from Winnipeg and Rhonda Harder Epp from Camrose, Alberta will fill the gallery with their lively and captivating art opening on Friday, September 19. Both artists probe many issues through art that at first glance may appear mainly to be fun, quirky or simply beautifully realized. Summer travels to WinterCurator Ray Dirks is heading for the Zimbabwean winter during much of our summer. The past two years he has been working on a global exhibition that will open at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on July 17 before moving on to the global assembly of Mennonite World Conference, also in Bulawayo, from August 11 – 17. Dirks leaves on July 12 and returns August 22. Ruth Maendel, as during Dirks’ absence last year, will be taking over during much of his time away. While in Zimbabwe Dirks will stay at a home for street children and plans to work with them on a project that will lead to a future MHCGallery exhibition. The global exhibition, with over 100 pieces of art and many photographs of daily life from 17 countries, will come to the MHCGallery in 2004. One more time…Summer. Summer is a great time, especially where the season is all too short. In fundraising terms summer is often a difficult time that seems too long. Keeping the MHCGallery afloat is difficult at the best of times. We must raise several thousand dollars this summer. If you appreciate the wide range of art the gallery presents we hope you can consider a tax deductible donation to keep the institution running. The MHCGallery, without any exaggeration, features a wider range of art than do many galleries with budgets that are 10 times or more greater. We appreciate people who can only give a small amount and we also need those who can regularly give much larger gifts. All are essential. As mentioned, gifts to the MHCGallery are tax deductible. The gallery operates almost exclusively from donations. We cherish your support. Send cheques made out to the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery, c/o Ray Dirks/Connie Wiebe, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 0M4. CONTACT/DONATIONSRay Dirks/Connie Wiebe, Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 0M4; rdirks@mennonitechurch.ca; 204-888-6781; fax 204- 831-5675 Your tax deductible donations to the gallery are always appreciated. |
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