Vision Weave Public Art Installed

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Vision Weave Community Arts project has been permanently installed at the Albion- Heatherington Recreation Centre, Ottawa, Canada.

photo by Caleb Abbott

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artculture

City of Ottawa Public and Community Arts Newsletter

October 2010 Newsletter no. 4

Brought to you by the Cultural Services Branch

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COMMUNITY WEAVING PROJECT UNVEILED AT ALBION- HEATHERINGTON

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A new public art commission entitled Vision Weave created for the Albion-Heatherington Recreation Centre, was unveiled by Councillor Diane Deans and community members on Thursday, September 9th.

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Vision Weave, by artists Thoma Ewen and Gabby Ewen, is a visual expression of inter-cultural and inter-generational creative collaboration. Hidden within the woven wool banners suspended from the foyer ceiling are over 100 ‘visionmessages’ for the present and future written by members of the Albion-Heatherington and Fairlea communities.The artist team set up their portable loom outdoors at the Better Beginnings Better Futures’ June Celebration, andin the Centre throughout July 2010 to teach, animate, communicate and direct the weaving of the Vision Weave project with community members of allages.

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articulture

Bulletin sur l’art public et les arts communautairesOctobre 2010 Bulletin no 4

Présenté par la Direction des services culturels de la Ville d’Ottawa

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DÉVOILEMENT D’UN PROJET COMMUNAUTAIRE DE TISSAGE AU CENTRE ALBION-HEATHERINGTON

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Un nouveau projet d’art public intitulé Toile de vision, commandé pourle Centre récréatif Albion-Heatherington, a été dévoilé en présence de la conseillère Diane Deans et demembres de la collectivité, le jeudi 9 septembre dernier.

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Créée par les artistes Thoma Ewen et Gabby Ewen, l’oeuvre Toile de vision est une expression visuelle d’une collaboration créative interculturelle et intergénérationnelle. Au sein des bannières faites de laine tissée suspendues au plafond du foyer se trouvent plus de 100 messages exprimant la vision pour le présent et l’avenir de membres des collectivités Albion-Heatherington et Fairlea. L’équipe d’artistes a installé son métier portable à l’extérieur lors de la Célébration de juin du programme Partir d’un bon pas pour un avenir meilleur, puis dans le Centre pendant tout le mois de juillet 2010 pour enseigner le tissage et animer, communiquer et diriger le projet Toile de vision en collaboration avec des membres de tous âges de la collectivité.

The Chalice

The “Chalice” tapestry was commissioned for Michele Couzens-Eason of Kent, England in celebration of her 50^th birthday.

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The tapestry represents Glastonbury Tor, one of Michele’s favourite places.There are many legends of the Tor: some suggest it may have been an ancient Druid sacred site in England, and is thought to have been the location of Avalon in Arthurian times. One thing is certain - it is a place of powerful energies

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I depicted energy spiraling around the Tor and then coming up out of the Tor. Portraying the Tor energies seemed quite natural, since both Michele and her husband Paul Eason are Reiki practitioners who do healing energy work. When I came close to finishing the weaving of the tapestry, I noticed that a chalice shape had appeared almost like an aura containing and surrounding the energy lines, which is how the tapestry’s name came to be. The tapestry is 2’ wide by 3’ high, and was woven in the studio at Moon Rain Centre in the spring of 2010.

-Thoma Ewen

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The Chalice (2010)

International Textile Arts Event in the Outaouais Aug 15 to Oct 10

The integration of textile arts into the natural environment and the mythology of the thirteen moons

When thirteen moons entwine

was an international textile event, inspired by the thirteen moons of the lunar calendar. It was an outdoor laboratory that brought together established professional textile artists with emerging artists in the creation of 13 outdoor textile art installations at thirteen sites along a scenic walking path in nature at Moon Rain Centre, in the Gatineau Hills.

The number thirteen has very ancient and mystical significance, representing the unification of life, creation and the cosmos. In many cultures, the Wise Woman is referred to as a "Woman of the Thirteenth Moon".

When thirteen Moons Entwine included a spectrum of textile arts exhibitions presented in collaboration with major exhibition centres in the region, and offered hands on workshops by internationally known textile artists.

Quand les treize lunes s'entrelacent

When Thirteen Moons Entwine International textile arts event in the Outaouais Aug 15 to Oct 10

Video courtesy Aisha Productions, Gatineau Quebec

Woven Works

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When Thirteen Moons Entwine International textile arts event in the outaouais Aug 15 to Oct 10

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In collaboration with Moon Rain Centre, and the international textile arts event, "When Thirteen Moons Entwine", you are invited to the opening of The Living Tapestry, woven works by Thoma Ewen, at The Trinity Gallery, Shenkman Arts Centre, Sunday August 29th, 2 to 4pm.
Exhibition on display from August 26 to September 28th, 2010.
For further information contact Moon Rain Centre
info@moonrain.ca
819 457 9711
www.moonrain.ca.

When Thirteen Moons Entwine

International textile arts event in the Outaouais Aug 15 to Oct 10
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When Thirteen Moons Entwine ... Artists

When Thirteen Moons Entwine International textile arts event in the Outaouais Aug 15 to Oct 10

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Moon Rain Centre is proud to announce the participating artists for the on-site installations as part of the upcoming When Thirteen Moons Entwine event. They are...

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Irene Anton GERMANY ● Carole Baillargeon QUÉBEC
Ewa Bartosz-Mazus POLAND ● Denise Coker QUÉBEC
Joanne De Nobriga UK ● Nadine Dupeux FRANCE
Claire Guerette QUÉBEC ● Andie Haltrich QUÉBEC

Peter Harris CANADA ● Jocelyne Ladouceur QUÉBEC

Hope Maclean QUÉBEC ● Edith Meusnier FRANCE

Gaël Morin FRANCE ● Johanna Nousiainen QUÉBEC
Kathryn Pannepacker USA ● Ali Rabjohns UK

Hannah Ranger QUÉBEC ● Nadine Richard FRANCE

Krystyna Sadej CANADA ● Nathalie Levasseur QUEBEC

Jolanta Sprawka QUÉBEC ● Marie Pier St-George CANADA
Ixchel Suarez CANADA ● Liane Thiry-Smith CANADA
owen tuf QUÉBEC ● Jeanne Vaillancourt CANADA

When Thirteen Moons Entwine Workshops

TEXTILE ART WORKSHOPS

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTS EVENT IN THE OUTAOUAIS
WHEN THIRTEEN MOONS ENTWINE

at Moon Rain Centre

Group Felting - Aug.28 Claire Guerette - QUÉBEC
Family Weaving - Aug.28. Kathryn Pannepacker - USA
Moon Creatures - Aug.28 Ali Rabjons - UK
Fire and Fibre - Aug.29. Hope Maclean - QUÉBEC
Closed Vessel Wet Feltmaking - Aug.29 Hannah Ranger - QUÉBEC
Felt Making Make a Moon - Aug.29 Liane Thiry-Smith - CANADA
Marathon Weaving - Aug.29-30 Kathryn Pannepacker - USA
Felting Aug.30 Ali Rabjohns - UK
Tapestry - Sept.1 - Ewa Bartosz-Mazus - POLAND
Textile Resin - Sept.9 - Jocelyne Ladouceur - QUÉBEC
Knitting - Sept.14 & 16 - Jocelyne Ladouceur - QUÉBEC
Hand Quilting - Sept.18 - Liane Thiry-Smith - CANADA
Printing on Textiles - Sept.18 - Andie Haltrich - QUÉBEC
Silk-Screen - Sept.19 - Frances Graff - QUÉBEC
Laine Transformations of Wool - Sept.25 - Claire Guerette - QUÉBEC
Felt Hat-making - Sept.25-26 - Hannah Ranger - QUÉBEC
Doll making - Oct.2 - Liane Thiry-Smith - CANADA
Needle Felting - Oct.3 - Hannah Ranger - QUÉBEC
Tapestry - Oct.10 - Ixchel Suarez - CANADA

For
SCHEDULE / INFORMATION / ONLINE REGISTRATION

http://www.moonrain.ca/

Update on The Living Tapestry Workbook

Wow, we would like to thank all for their interest in The Living Tapestry Workbook. The reaction to the book has been great and we will soon have to go ahead with a second printing . We have sold copies in Australia, New Zealand, The United Kingdom, The United States and Canada. The book has been praised by both teachers and students.


For more information

www.moonrain.ca/TapestryWorkBook.hmtl

Albion-Heatherington Recreation Centre

NEWS RELEASE

Ottawa

For immediate release:
March 12, 2010

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Unique weaving project wins public art competition

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Ottawa — The main lobby of the Albion-Heatherington Recreation Centre will soon be home to a collaborative art project that promises to have the entire community weaving. Vision Weave, by local artists Thoma Ewen and Gabriel Ewen Phillips, was the winning entry in a City competition that called for public art to enhance Ottawa’s newest recreation centre and foster community engagement.

The mother-and-daughter team are thrilled their project was selected. “We wanted to create a visual expression of inter-cultural and inter-generational creative collaboration,” said Thoma Ewen. “My daughter and I will set up a portable loom in the recreation centre to teach, animate, communicate and direct the weaving of the Vision Weave project with community members of all ages.”

Councillor Diane Deans, chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee, said that the winning art was a perfect project for the new recreation centre. “What better way to weave a community together than with a tapestry that everyone can take part in? It’s one more way that public art can inspire and connect people of all ages, cultures and interests.”

An evolving piece, Vision Weave will incorporate the woven stories from the community. The result will be radiantly colourful banner-like woven hangings.

Thoma Ewen is artistic director of the Moon Rain Centre for Tapestry Arts; Gabriel Ewen Phillips is project co-ordinator. An award-winning tapestry artist, and former instructor at the Ottawa School of Art, Thoma directs community projects in Canada and Europe. An assistant at the Moon Rain Centre for over 12 years, Gabriel has studied at Richard Robinson Fashion Design Academy, Arts Canterbury and Ottawa School of Art.

For more information about the new public art visit ottawa.ca/arts or call 3-1-1.

For more information:
Media contact
613-580-2450

Public inquiries
3-1-1

Vision Circle

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Moon Rain was invited to direct the The Vision Circle community weaving project done at the Ayer's Cliff Elementary School in the Eastern Townships in Quebec.




Louise Boyce on the right, the head teacher and assisant principal of the school, organized the project.

Images from Moon Rain

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Happy New Year to all

People have been requesting some images taken around Moon Rain Centre, so here are a few taken during warmer times.

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Images by K Ewen

The Living Tapestry Workbook is now available

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The Living Tapestry Workbook is now available for order. Contact info@moonrain.ca or telephone 819 457 9711. Please check the Moon Rain website at www.moonrain.ca/TapestryWorkBook.html (PayPal available)

The Living Tapestry Workbook is an introductory guide to designing and weaving tapestry.
The step-by-step instructions simplify tapestry weaving, making it accessible and easy to do. The Workbook covers all the basics needed to get started and serves as a companion to further explorations in tapestry weaving.

The Living Tapestry Workbook introduces the philosophy of Canadian tapestry artist Thoma Ewen, and shares her technical insights and knowledge developed over 35 years of weaving and teaching tapestry. Ewen communicates the ancient indigenous understanding that weaving is a sacred path. She illustrates how tapestry’s vital contemporary role is to transmit beauty, harmony and Peace.

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"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

For more information please visit

www.moonrain.ca/MoonsEntwineEnglish.html

or

www.moonrain.ca/MoonsEntwineFrench.html

Call to artists

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Moon Rain Centre announces
A Call to emerging and established textile/fibre artists for:
“When thirteen moons entwine”
an international textile arts event autumn 2010
integrating textiles, the environment and the mythologies of the

lunar calendar.

Artists are invited to propose outdoor textile/fibre art installations,

workshops and artist talks.
Deadline for submissions is January 15th 2010.

Information:
Moon Rain Centre
http://www.moonrain.ca/
info@moonrain.ca
819-457-9711