Articulation: Reflections from Quarantine 2020
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Welcome to December of 2020 from Articulation Textile Group. This year of revisioning has given us much to think about, many things to adjust to, and depending on where you reside it may have even shown you what isolation, shut down, and or quarantine look like. Our world may have turned on its head but silver linings are presenting all around us and in a year that has forced us to slow down we have more time to take them in. Witnessing Lake Winnipeg's freeze-up this year , for example, has been a revelation. The lake, often referred to as an inland ocean is subject to changes in wind and water levels. As a result, this season, plate glass like shards of ice have accumulated along the shore, some of them hip height and inches thick. At night a careful listen can reveal creaking and grinding or the muffled splash of water lapping under the ice, sometimes even , "Whalesong". |
I am typing this blog while quarantining on the shores of Lake Winnipeg at our cottage. The mandatory exile for a daughter returning home from a US university to write her exams online seemed like a perfect opportunity for some Mother/Daughter bonding and some time to take in the transforming landscape for what were previously only summer residents. Lake life is a spectacle and a positive consequence of the COVID-19 restrictions which are very serious business here in Manitoba at the moment. We had the RCMP at our door today checking in to ensure our compliance. We passed with flying colours. Stay safe everyone, follow public health protocols, and let's get through this together.
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| The only thing blooming in the heart of Canada at this time of year are the blooms in Amanda Onchulenko's paintings. Above is a detail of a recent 24" x 60" acrylic on canvas commission. |
Articulation members gathered in mid-November for an annual general meeting like no other. COVID-19 in 2020 meant we convened from our dining room tables or workspaces over zoom. Who could have imagined that our procedures and support systems would have evolved so quickly and changed so much in the span of a year? We are reminded the events and circumstances that arise in our lives are beyond our control. What we can control are our reactions to new circumstances as they present themselves. Re-imagined spaces, reflective approaches, and an introspective review of our processes and products appear to be some of the ways the Articulation Textile group is responding to change.
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| The list of projects Amanda has with her during quarantine is vast and includes Christmas-ifying |
During this year's AGM, one of our discussions focused on how the pandemic has altered or illuminated the concepts and ideas that inspire us and the processes in thought and action that define our creative lives and studio practice. We want to know how these new perspectives and circumstances are showing up in the work we produce? It may take some time and reflection to evaluate these developments thoroughly but we can all agree as creatives we have the inside track on making use of downtime, mandated or not, and the discussion got us at least thinking about our creative work and lives.
While some are lamenting the disruption to travel plans and intended study destinations, Wendy Klotz of Calgary is busy zooming around the globe on an online educational safari.
Wendy writes, I have been continuing to "fill the well" for the last couple of months. Almost to the point of drowning. This month at various times I have been following three online courses. I have one more felting course in December/February and then it all comes to a crashing halt. About time too, so that I can put my new-found knowledge to work and incorporate it into my own practice.
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| Above are examples of Wendy's online study sessions. Top, Felted, inked piece from Fiona Duthie's class. Bottom, Pleats with inserted organza from an embroidery class with Dionne Swift. |
Dionne Swift from England hosted an embroidery class, specifically machine embroidery with lots of straight stitching. It was a great group to work with and Dionne really was my guiding light during the pandemic. I felt quite bereft on the last day.
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| A chord made from iris leaves grown in Wendy Klotz's garden. A course given by Catriona Pollard. |
Wendy says, my felting class with Fiona Duthie used Sumi ink on silk and cotton fibres that were fixed then felted. I then took a short class on making chords with Catriona Pollard. The final course is with Eva Camacho making Joomchi and felting paper. Interestingly, I found the embroidery, felting, and paper courses worked really well together. Stay tuned to see what happens in my new work in the future as I have lots of fodder to keep me inspired through the upcoming challenges of a COVID-19 winter.
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| Nana Knitting has moved into high gear for Lesley Turner on Vancouver Island. These two sweaters are for grandsons one and two. The smaller one may be earth dyed by the mother-to-be to fit in with the Vintage Woodland style she has chosen for his wardrobe. |
Lesley is soon to travel to New Zealand to meet her newest grand baby. She has many projects packed and ready for the mandated 14 days of isolation she will get to spend in a designated hotel somewhere in NZ. Let's all keep our fingers crossed for safe travels for Lesley and a strong WiFi connection.
Lesley's garden is continuously evolving. Getting the beds ready for winter included putting a delicious serving of locally harvested seaweed around every tree and shrub. This acts as an organic slow-release fertilizer for the surrounding soil. She has also spent time gathering and layering materials for the soil organisms to make compost in her most sculptural of piles, which will hopefully be ready for the new growing season in the spring.
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| Lesley enlists help when foraging for seaweed on Vancouver Island beaches. We are reminded to never take more than 1/3 of any pile while foraging. |
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| Directional stitch by Ingrid Lincoln |
Ingrid Lincoln of Winnipeg has continued to explore the physical contents of her studio. She says she feels scattered at times and without focus, however, the freedom of play is allowing her to try new things and studio productivity is up. Exploration without intent we could say is a developing theme. Ingrid's priority is to explore media and allow conceptual patterns to evolve, or not.
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| Isolation by Ingrid Lincoln, Winnipeg. |
Leann Clifford of Saskatchewan has been re-calibrating with a move, home and studio, and we will look forward to seeing what resettlement looks like in her work. In anticipation of change, she has sold off many of her supplies, passing on the resources to continue the craft of making to those new to the media. A fresh slate spreads out before her on the doorstep of her 'Little Red Barn'.
For Donna Clement of Calgary, travel has played a large role in her life and art. Forced presence is providing time for reflection and online study in lieu of the rhythm of summer residencies and established deadlines for events and activities. It is definitely time for a little introspection for all of us in 2020 as the year comes to an end. We are reminded to be grateful for the communities of friends and family that keep us connected, for new opportunities that are developing around us, and for our creative mindset that affords us the "flexibility to re-purpose personal structures and self soothe via process." (Wendy Klotz)
Most importantly as 2020 comes to an end and the COVID-19 winter looms Lesley Turner reminds us to, "Be kind and accepting of ourselves".
Be well, stay safe, and stay tuned right here for a very new direction for Articulation Textile Group online.
Hope to chat with you again soon,
Amanda Onchulenko on behalf of Articulation Textile Group.
Amanda's Website
Lesley's Website and Blog
Wendy's Blog
Ingrid's Website
Donna's Blog
Donna's Website
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