A post from from Sally Reckert of the British Tapestry Group.

A post from Sally Reckert of the British Tapestry Group.

Hi all, 1. Social DistancingThis is my weaving for 'Social Distancing’ can also be ‘Just going for a walk does anyone want to come? Too busy’  or even ‘Somebody forgot their phone’ Stay well and safe all of you. All the best, Hilary O'Connell 2. A Little News Item and more...A little news item: Here is the link to a Podcast interview of Thoma Ewen, produced by Sarah Resnick of Gist Yarn in Norwood, MA, USA. In the interview, Thoma describes how she became a tapestry artist and relates the experiences leading up to creating The Vision Weave Project, a community tapestry project that Moon Rain Centre has done with thousands of school children. https://www.gistyarn.com/blogs/podcast/episode-102-tapestry-weaving-in-quebec-with-thoma-ewen (the podcast was made before the closures came into effect) And a feel good message from children: “ca va bien aller”  - “it’s going to be OK” All over Quebec, children are hand-colouring pictures of rainbows in all sizes, and writing the title  “ca va bien aller” and posting them in windows of homes and apartments. Children are sending out a message of hope to their communities. We saw these rainbow pictures last Friday when we drove to Buckingham, Quebec to pick up much-needed tools and equipment from the school in which we had been doing the community project ”Constellation”. I was so moved to see these rainbow pictures in all sizes, remembering that The Vision Weave Project often uses a rainbow colour scheme. Thank you to all the children for communicating hope. It really made me feel better. ca va bien aller - it’s going to be OK Attached is the jpg of the rainbow image that a child can colour and post- you can of course do an English version if you like. It’s apparently become a movement all across Quebec- called the “ca va bien aller” movement. We found the image on the web. Maybe a child you know might like to colour it, and to know that kids here in Quebec, Canada are doing the same. Stay safe, Keep doing the things you love, Warm best wishes to you and your families, Thoma Ewen Moon Rain Centre www.moonrain.ca          info@moonrain.ca EDITOR's NOTE: You might like to do a weaving of it, or one of your own design. I am about to start weaving a small one (15 cm x 11 cm): Behold the Rainbow Wouldn't it be great if we could all do a small weaving and link them up so that they went all around the world, holding it safe! 3. The Beginning ArtistSocial distancing means an increase in 'Distance Learning'. We have found this website that may help those just starting on their weaving journey, or just curious to see what is out there. https://www.thebeginningartist.com/weaving-patterns-and-techniques/ https://www.thebeginningartist.com/wall-hanging/ 4. SelvedgeNewsletter No. 14 Supporting Makers Together. The current global pandemic has changed the way we live, at least temporarily. We need beauty and lightness amidst the anxiety of the rolling news, and Selvedge will play its part by promoting makers of handmade textiles through engaging storytelling... Read the story. https://www.selvedge.org/blogs/selvedge/supporting-makers Secrets of the Museum.  A six-part BBC Two documentary about the V&A follows the museum’s curators... Read the story. https://www.selvedge.org/blogs/selvedge/secrets-of-the-museum Read the whole newsletter at: https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?e=b4676973e5&u=2ecccbd9c19df94f48080e541&id=955b191328

Eleonora Budden (BTG Email Manager) info@thebritishtapestrygroup.co.uk www.thebritishtapestrygroup.co.uk BTG (@britishtapestry) on Twitter Facebook (BritishTapestryGroup) Instagram (btgweavers) Visit us today - just one click away!

Artists aroung the world continue to exhibit on-line

Artists around the world continue to exhibit their works, by presenting on-line exhibitions. Here are several tapestry exhibitions you may enjoy:

Tapestry Touring International, created by Jane Freear of England, presents 15 British and 15 Canadian tapestry artists ( Thoma Ewen is one of the participating artists)

http://www.tapestrytouringinternational.weebly.com

 and Fabric of the North, organized by Sally Reckert of the British TapestryGroup  h

ttps://www.fabricofthenorth.org/catalogue.html

Episode 102: Tapestry Weaving in Quebec with Thoma Ewen

    On Monday 5 2020 Thoma Ewen was interviewed for  theon the Weave Podcast Episode 102 with host Sarah Resnick, founder of GIST: Yarn & Fiber, This episode was posted on March 20 2020.

Hi everyone, Sarah here, back at it hosting an episode of the Weave Podcast. These are hard and unsettling times we are living in now, and I hope that this podcast is providing some comfort and peacefulness for you. 

This week on the podcast, I’m talking to Thoma Ewen. Thoma is a tapestry weaver in Quebec, Canada whose work focuses on a lifelong love of the natural environment. She is also the founder of Moon Rain, a center for tapestry weaving and teaching, and a place for creative retreat and renewal. 

Below is the link to the podcast

https://www.gistyarn.com/blogs/podcast/episode-102-tapestry-weaving-in-quebec-with-thoma-ewen

Thoma Ewen, taken when I was weaving Hado: Unfolding photo by Jamie Cruickshank

Hado: Unfolding 2018 6’w x 5’h

Offering at Spider Rock 2007 7’w x5’h

Starwatch 2020 5.5’w x 5’h

Flower Gives Butterflies 2013 41 w x 51” h

Aurora Borealis Behind the Trees #4: Curtain of Light 2009 4’w x6’h

International Contemporary Tapestry Galway Ireland

Thoma Ewen has been invited to speak at the International Tapestry Symposium in Galway, Ireland, May 22-24, and to exhibit in TAPESTRY 20/20.

NUI GALWAY, IRELAND | 23 - 24 MAY SYMPOSIUM &; MASTER CLASSES, 3 EXHIBITIONS 

The International Contemporary Tapestry celebration at National University of Ireland, Galway, 22-24 May 2020, includes three Exhibitions, a Symposium and three Master Workshops. 

The Symposium | Experience, Growth and Renewal, combines a panel of International Speakers who will present the wealth of talent and creativity in contemporary tapestry on Saturday 23 May. Comprising Prof. Lesley Millar MBE - UK, Anet Brusgaard - Denmark, Prof. Włodzimierz Cygan - Poland, Thoma Ewen - Canada, Valerie Kirk - Australia, Marie Thumette Brichard - France and Yasuko Fujino - Japan supported by EU Japan Fest, the panel of artists, curators, critics and academics consider ‘What is Tapestry?’ and its future as a creative medium in contemporary art practice. This Symposium offers the opportunity to listen, share knowledge and debate. 
 
The three Master Workshops on Sunday 24 May are provided by Line Dufour - Canada, John Brennan & Elizabeth Radcliffe and Joan Baxter - Scotland.

The weekend starts on Friday 23 evening with the opening of three international tapestry exhibitions; Tapestry 20/20 by the international speakers, INTERCONNECTIONS by Joan Baxter, John Brennan, Clare Coyle and Elizabeth Radcliffe from Scotland and Frances Crowe, Mary Cuthbert, Terry Dunne and Angela Forte from Ireland and TIMELINES on the Edge, a collaborative tapestry project by Catherine Ryan, Frances Crowe, Frances Leach, Heather Underwood, Joan Baxter, Lorna Donlon, Muriel Beckett, Pascale de Coninck, Terry Dunne and Tish Canniffe supported by Weavers Bazaar, UK, Ceadogan Rugs, Wexford and Connemara based, The Dixon Carpet Company.

 

Symposium | Experience, Growth and Renewal

Professor Lesley Millar MBE, Director of the International Textile Research Centre, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham UK, ran her own weave studio for over 20 years before becoming an exhibition curator specialising in textiles. She has been responsible for many international textile exhibitions since 1996 including two contemporary tapestry exhibitions: 'Here & Now: contemporary tapestry' (2016-17) and 'Weaving New Worlds' (2018).   Her current exhibition: 'Fabric: touch and identity' (2020) is a collaboration with textile artist Alice Kettle developed from the book they co-edited: 'Erotic Cloth' for Bloomsbury Academic (2018). She will launch the international tapestry weekend on Friday evening 22 May 2020 at the Human Biology Building, NUI Galway and is main guest speaker at opening of the Symposium | Experience, Growth and Renewal.

Anet Brusgaard, Director of the European Tapestry Forum, Denmark. In 2005 launched the first triennial exhibition ARTAPESTRY in KUNSTEN, Aalborg Denmark which toured to Textilemuseum Krefeld and Musée Jean Lurcat, Angers, and Artapestry 2-3-4-5 has been touring Europe since. Established the European Tapestry Forum. Now preparing Artapestry 6, launching in ArtCenter Silkeborg Bad, Denmark in January 2021 which will also tour Europe.

Professor Włodzimierz Cygan, Strzeminski Academy of Fine Art, Łódź, and Łódź University of Technology, Poland. Awards: Laureate of the International Wool Secretariat award, Winner of the Grand Prix at the 12th International Textile Triennial in Łódź in 2007., Medal winner, 6th International Fiber Art Exhibition, "From Lausanne to Beijing", Henan Art Museum, Zhengzhou, China in 2010. Juror of international competitions and the author of many publications. 2009 – “My unique way of warping” w Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe, nr 4/2009, 2011 – “Materials and Techniques Used by Artists – Participants of the International Triennial of Tapestry in Lodz” Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe 1’2011, 2011 - Fiberarts, Spring, Monique Lehman I Elizabeth Michel “Object of conscious creation”.

Thoma Ewen, curator of the exhibition “Woven by Hand: Contemporary Canadian Tapestries” and artistic director of Moon Rain Centre, Val-Des-Monts, Quebec, Canada. Thoma Ewen is a Canadian tapestry artist who has been designing and weaving tapestries for 45 years.  She has exhibited her light-filled tapestries in solo and group exhibitions in Canada, United States, Mexico, England, France, Poland, Guatemala, Venezuela and China. Her tapestries are a visual exploration of the forces or energies that move through everything on and beyond the planet, communicating a sense of harmony and movement in the universe.

Valerie Kirk, Artist and Tapestry Weaver, The Australian National University, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Australia. Valerie Kirk studied art and design at Edinburgh College of Art, where she discovered woven tapestry. As a graduate she went to Australia and worked in the Victorian (now Australian) Tapestry Workshop and travelled the country to teach in communities and colleges, work as an artist-in-residence, exhibit and lead community tapestry projects and textile tours.

Marie Thumette Brichard, Tapestry weaver, she run her own studio in Lorient and Isle of Groix in the West of France. Her high-lice tapestries are mainly inspired by the maritime surrounding where she lives. She is a member of L'Art et la Manière à Aubusson, British Tapestry Group, European Tapestry Forum, American Tapestry Alliance et World Textile Art Organisation, France.

Yasuko Fujino, Artist and Tapestry Weaver, she was selected as a CORDIS Prize shortlist exhibitor in 2019. Large scale works, incorporating the significence of the story, cartoon and weaving. Professor of Dyeing and Weaving at Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan.

https://projectbaabaa.clr.events/event/128794:international-contemporary-tapestry

Vernissage La Magie des Files/Woven by Hand

On August 26 2019 the opening for the tapestry exhibition La Magie des Files / Woven by Hand was held at the Galerie Montcalm Gatineau Quebec 

Woven By Hand: Contemporary Canadian Tapestries is a collective of recent tapestries designed and woven by 11 Canadian tapestry artists. Each artist is a master in the art and craft of tapestry weaving, having dedicated many decades to creation in this medium and each is recognized internationally for their outstanding artistry, achievements and commitment to the medium of tapestry. Among the artists are winners of some of Canada’s most prestigious arts awards. 
Curated by Thoma Ewen.

La Magie des Fils : tapisseries contemporaines canadiennes est une exposition collective de tapisseries contemporaines, conçues et tissées à la main par 11 artistes du Canada. Ces artistes sont des maîtres dans l’art de la tapisserie haute-lisse et chacun a dédié plusieurs décennies de leur vie à cet art. Ils sont tous reconnues internationalement  pour leurs créations exceptionnelles, leur engagement et leurs réalisations remarquables dans le domaine de la tapisserie. Parmi les artistes sont des gagnants des prix les plus prestigieux au Canada. 
Commissaire Thoma Ewen.

Back row left to right  Ixchel Suarez, Marcel Marois, Peter Harris, Line Dufour, Paulette Marie Sauve,  Linda Wallace, Jane Kidd, Murray Gibson,

Front row left to right
Thoma Ewen,  Josee Prudhomme acting director, Suzanne Paquette 

Josee Prudhomme introduces Woven By Hand 

All photos by Gabby Ewen

Artist participating in Woven By Hand

Line Dufour

Jane Kidd

Suzanne Paquette

Ixchel Suarez 

Linda Wallace

Peter Harris

Murray Gibson

Thoam Ewen discussing Barbara Heller's work

Thoma Ewen

Paulette Marie Sauve

Marcel Marois 

All Photos By Gabby Ewen

La Magie des Fils / Woven by Hand

Woven By Hand: Contemporary Canadian Tapestries / La Magie des fils: 

tapisseries contemporaines canadiennes

Galerie Montcalm, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada   

August  25th to October 6th, 2019

Curated by Thoma Ewen

pdf created by Association des Tisserandes du Quebec

The Living Tapestry Workbook,

second edition
published by Moon Rain Centre,  September 2018

The Living Tapestry Workbook, second edition  ©Thoma Ewen 2018

The Living Tapestry Workbook is an introductory guide to designing and weaving tapestry. Its 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 creative explorations in tapestry weaving.

This edition beautifully illustrates in full colour the complete tapestry process from initial sketch to finished woven tapestry, and clearly demonstrates all the steps from warping the frame loom to taking the tapestry off the loom.

The Living Tapestry Workbook introduces the philosophy of Canadian tapestry artist Thoma Ewen, and shares her technical insights and knowledge gained during more than 40 years of weaving and teaching tapestry to all ages and levels. She communicates the ancient indigenous belief that weaving is a sacred path, and illustrates how tapestry’s vital contemporary role is to transmit the energy of peace.

www.moonrain.ca/TapestryWorkBook.html

“I have read your wonderful book three times now and each time I gain a new understanding. It is amazingly life changing for me as a Tapestry Artist! What a gift your book has been to me personally in my own tapestry journey. Amazing words, heartfelt lessons…thank you for making tapestry weaving such a beautiful experience. You went straight for my heart! Your book is instrumental to a Weaver’s soul!”
–Donna Wynn, United States

“So many texts on tapestry focus on the mechanics of weaving alone and don't give voice to enhancing other skills in support of cultivated woven expression; yours does.
–Louise Adams, Germany

“Thanks to your Workbook, I finally trust in me, in my art and its potential ”
– Arianna Saviola, Spain

Woven By Hand: Contemporary Canadian Tapestries La Magie des Fils : Tapisseries Contemporaines Canadiennes

Woven By Hand: Contemporary Canadian Tapestries is a collective of recent tapestries designed and woven by 11 Canadian tapestry artists. Each artist is a master in the art and craft of tapestry weaving, having dedicated many decades to creation in this medium and each is recognized internationally for their outstanding artistry, achievements and commitment to the medium of tapestry.

Line Dufour, Thoma Ewen, Murray Gibson, Peter Harris, Barbara Heller, Jane Kidd, Marcel Marois, Paulette Marie Sauve, Suzanne Paquette, Ixchel Suarez, and Linda Wallace.

La Magie des Fils : Tapisseries Contemporaines Canadiennes

Une exposition collective de tapisseries contemporaines, conçues et tissées à la main par 11 artistes du Canada. Ces artistes sont des maîtres dans l’art de la tapisserie haute-lisse et chacun a dédié plusieurs décennies de leur vie à cet art. Ils sont tous reconnus internationalement  pour leurs créations exceptionnelles, leur engagement et leurs réalisations remarquables dans le domaine de la tapisserie.

Line Dufour, Thoma Ewen, Murray Gibson, Peter Harris, Barbara Heller, Jane Kidd, Marcel Marois, Paulette Marie Sauve, Suzanne Paquette, Ixchel Suarez, and Linda Wallace.

Contact:

Thoma Ewen

Moon Rain Centre

www.moonrain.ca

info@moonrain.ca

819 457 9711

La Tapisserie Vivante

published by Moon Rain Centre,  August 2016

La Tapisserie Vivante: cahier d’exercices – la création d’une tapisserie

La Tapisserie Vivante est une introduction à la création et au tissage de tapisseries. Les instructions étape par étape simplifient l’apprentissage du tissage. Elles en font un art accessible et facile. Ce cahier comporte tous les éléments nécessaires pour un(e) débutant(e). Il pourra même servir dans l’exploration plus avancée du tissage de tapisseries.

La Tapisserie Vivante nous fait découvrir la philosophie de Thoma Ewen, artiste-tisserande canadienne. Elle partage ses connaissances et ses techniques développées  au cours de ses  45 années de tissage et de l’enseignement de cet art. Mme Ewen transmet la sagesse autochtone ancienne qui considère le tissage comme une voie sacrée. Elle illustre avec une grande clarté comment la tapisserie joue un rôle vital dans le monde contemporaine en y apportant beauté, paix et harmonie.

Renseignements ou pour commander  info@moonrain.ca

Tapisseries Murales / Woven Tapestries