Articulation Textile Group: Revisioning in April of 2020
The vision and optimism that began 2020 have very quickly evolved into a new reality few, if any of us, saw coming. Did we foresee the shut down of not only gallery, exhibition, and creative spaces, but the everyday routines of everyone in every corner of the globe during this COVID-19 pandemic?
Change truly has proven to be our only constant and the sea change we are all facing brings with it rolling waves and tidal ebbs and flows that are restructuring many a creative's process and outlook.
New terms are popping up with regularity. The "COVID-20", for example, describing the reactionary carb-laden snacks baking in homes everywhere, filling the void left by our vacated routines.
"Covidiots" are going about their day without concern for social distancing, but I am glad to know they are the minority.
Most of us are developing new normals and finding ways to be together in our households. Creativity reigns in stressful times and I am glad to report my family has found ways to mark out personal territory and we are enjoying the opportunity to walk and talk together on daily, socially distanced jaunts, without the usual distractions.
Members of Articulation, like everyone else, are managing through these unusual times.
Wendy Klotz writes: Having to stay home has given me the gift of unstructured time which has meant I have had the opportunity to work on my daughter's wedding quilt. She was married in 2005 so the fabric was well matured. The quilt is not quite finished but the finish line is definitely in sight.
Having this time has allowed Wendy to figure out why this project was regretfully stashed away. My guess is the structure of a double wedding ring quilt requires a lot of repetition, following a pattern and "colouring in the lines". This is no easy task for a creative who more easily sees new directions and tangents in a developing idea.
Lesley Turner returned to Canada and self-isolation as borders closed and she settled into her new reality. A focus on family and Nana knitting have taken the bulk of Lesley's creative time as she grounds herself in her spring garden on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula and recently Royal landscape.
Spring cleaning at home and a commitment to creating a new body of work for an upcoming exhibition, now cancelled, has meant less urgency for Lesley's creative agenda. Lesley says she is working at a much slower pace than is her norm. Many of us appear to be feeling a similar relaxation of our personal expectations. Some like Donna Clement are refocusing attention on smaller details in different media.
Taking some time to mentally adjust to our new paradigm is not something only the creatives are facing. When we look back at this period will we think of it as a gift, time to slow down, to recalibrate, and decide where our focus really wants to go?
Lesley has coined a new term, "slippage" to describe the tendency to stay up late watching new shows on Netflix, sleeping in, awaking to leisurely breakfasts accompanied by reading for pleasure, not purpose. She has been enjoying this forgotten experience COVID-19 has reinstated.
It sounds like a gift to me and I think we can all be excused for not getting to our studios, if available, or makeshift creative spaces, as often or regularly as our usual programming. Coping in unfamiliar times can be considered a success, that is if anyone is casting judgment.
With spring around the corner in the west, we can take a page from Lesley's book and look to our future gardens and the abundance of life ready to spring forth from the seeds we plant now in isolation.
Donna Clement says she is doing her part to support small businesses by ordering from local florists and restaurants. Colour is good for the soul she says, especially when it comes in the form of a spring bouquet. If we want to continue to access the unique pleasures available in small businesses we need to support them now.
Organizing details of our own small businesses is also a good idea. Donna's new business cards remind me I need to do the same.
Perhaps the busiest creative of our group is Ingrid Lincoln who has been regularly at work in her studio and doing what she calls the "studio rumble", challenging her mind, making decisions in stitch, and using up studio supplies. During these serious rumblings, Ingrid has discovered the remarkable shelf life of some products and is making interesting discoveries by allowing her imagination to flow. Ingrid has enjoyed the inspiration of forgotten art supplies and has begun a "scarred" series combining silk organza dyed with potato dextrin resist, foil, photo transfers, fabric painting, and of course hand stitching in her evolving repertoire that is producing some exciting and colourful results.
Leann Clifford has maintained a quiet focus on family and is possibly busy with hand stitching on her quilts or collaging paper into unique hand made notebooks.
I have been largely out of my studio and working from home respecting social distancing and getting cozy with my family. I admit I can be easily distracted and may be experiencing my own form of Lesley's "slippage". I am missing my paintbrushes for sure but have kept my creative juices flowing doing some snow dyeing with the now diminished snowbank in my front yard and entertaining my colour starved neighbours.
Like Ingrid unearthing unused supplies in her studio rumble, I came across some dye sublimated samples I had forgotten about and I am now enjoying the development of a new body of work, tentatively called the "Repatterning Series". My refreshed sewing room at home is feeling better and better the more time I spend in it. I believe the search for a silver lining in trying times should not be limited to only the smallest of our interior spaces and to that end, handwork has been known to spread into sunny corners all over my house.
Like people everywhere we have all made adjustments to our routines and rhythms during these unprecedented times but as the weeks and days progress we are seeing our global commitment to flattening the curve and protecting vulnerable populations is having the desired effect. We all hope for a return to normal programming but what will that look like when restrictions relax and we can establish our new normal?
I hope it includes some creativity and a solid dose of gratitude for the sacrifices made by so many.
Until we meet again, stay safe and socially distanced as required.
All the best,
from Amanda Onchulenko
On behalf of Articulation Textile Group, Canada.
Amanda's website
Lesley's website
Lesley's blog
Wendy's Blog
Ingrid's Website
Donna's Blog
Donna's Website
Change truly has proven to be our only constant and the sea change we are all facing brings with it rolling waves and tidal ebbs and flows that are restructuring many a creative's process and outlook.
 |
| COVID-19 has changed the way we think, work, and act and provided some unexpected quality time to reflect. |
New terms are popping up with regularity. The "COVID-20", for example, describing the reactionary carb-laden snacks baking in homes everywhere, filling the void left by our vacated routines.
"Covidiots" are going about their day without concern for social distancing, but I am glad to know they are the minority.
Most of us are developing new normals and finding ways to be together in our households. Creativity reigns in stressful times and I am glad to report my family has found ways to mark out personal territory and we are enjoying the opportunity to walk and talk together on daily, socially distanced jaunts, without the usual distractions.
 |
| We can all be inspired by a new season even if for some of us it is a little slow in arriving. |
Members of Articulation, like everyone else, are managing through these unusual times.
Wendy Klotz writes: Having to stay home has given me the gift of unstructured time which has meant I have had the opportunity to work on my daughter's wedding quilt. She was married in 2005 so the fabric was well matured. The quilt is not quite finished but the finish line is definitely in sight.
Having this time has allowed Wendy to figure out why this project was regretfully stashed away. My guess is the structure of a double wedding ring quilt requires a lot of repetition, following a pattern and "colouring in the lines". This is no easy task for a creative who more easily sees new directions and tangents in a developing idea.
 |
| Wendy Klotz's double wedding ring top completed |
Lesley Turner returned to Canada and self-isolation as borders closed and she settled into her new reality. A focus on family and Nana knitting have taken the bulk of Lesley's creative time as she grounds herself in her spring garden on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula and recently Royal landscape.
 |
| Lesley has been busy blocking her Nanna knitting after her travels. |
Spring cleaning at home and a commitment to creating a new body of work for an upcoming exhibition, now cancelled, has meant less urgency for Lesley's creative agenda. Lesley says she is working at a much slower pace than is her norm. Many of us appear to be feeling a similar relaxation of our personal expectations. Some like Donna Clement are refocusing attention on smaller details in different media.
 |
| Donna Clement has recently focused on a smaller scale and colour with these tags. |
Taking some time to mentally adjust to our new paradigm is not something only the creatives are facing. When we look back at this period will we think of it as a gift, time to slow down, to recalibrate, and decide where our focus really wants to go?
Lesley has coined a new term, "slippage" to describe the tendency to stay up late watching new shows on Netflix, sleeping in, awaking to leisurely breakfasts accompanied by reading for pleasure, not purpose. She has been enjoying this forgotten experience COVID-19 has reinstated.
 |
| Lesley illustrates the difference yarn choices can make. |
It sounds like a gift to me and I think we can all be excused for not getting to our studios, if available, or makeshift creative spaces, as often or regularly as our usual programming. Coping in unfamiliar times can be considered a success, that is if anyone is casting judgment.
 |
| Spring bouquets are a common theme for those of us wanting to support local businesses. |
With spring around the corner in the west, we can take a page from Lesley's book and look to our future gardens and the abundance of life ready to spring forth from the seeds we plant now in isolation.
 |
| Donna Clement has been spending quality time journalling |
Organizing details of our own small businesses is also a good idea. Donna's new business cards remind me I need to do the same.
 |
| Ingrid Lincoln hand stitching on silk organza. |
 |
| A hint of spring was all it took for Ingrid to get outside to dye new scarf lengths |
Leann Clifford has maintained a quiet focus on family and is possibly busy with hand stitching on her quilts or collaging paper into unique hand made notebooks.
 |
| The back action, part of Amanda's 'Re-patterning Series' |
I have been largely out of my studio and working from home respecting social distancing and getting cozy with my family. I admit I can be easily distracted and may be experiencing my own form of Lesley's "slippage". I am missing my paintbrushes for sure but have kept my creative juices flowing doing some snow dyeing with the now diminished snowbank in my front yard and entertaining my colour starved neighbours.
 |
| Amanda spent an afternoon snow dyeing silk in the last snowbank standing. |
Like Ingrid unearthing unused supplies in her studio rumble, I came across some dye sublimated samples I had forgotten about and I am now enjoying the development of a new body of work, tentatively called the "Repatterning Series". My refreshed sewing room at home is feeling better and better the more time I spend in it. I believe the search for a silver lining in trying times should not be limited to only the smallest of our interior spaces and to that end, handwork has been known to spread into sunny corners all over my house.
 |
| We have all found silver linings during this pandemic. For Amanda, it involves heavy machine quilting in a renewed sewing space. What silver linings have you found during these unusual times? |
Like people everywhere we have all made adjustments to our routines and rhythms during these unprecedented times but as the weeks and days progress we are seeing our global commitment to flattening the curve and protecting vulnerable populations is having the desired effect. We all hope for a return to normal programming but what will that look like when restrictions relax and we can establish our new normal?
I hope it includes some creativity and a solid dose of gratitude for the sacrifices made by so many.
Until we meet again, stay safe and socially distanced as required.
All the best,
from Amanda Onchulenko
On behalf of Articulation Textile Group, Canada.
Amanda's website
Lesley's website
Lesley's blog
Wendy's Blog
Ingrid's Website
Donna's Blog
Donna's Website
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