CANADA

Celebrating Tapestry, the Canadian Tapestry Network is a volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to communication among its members, fellow tapestry weavers, with the documentation, promotion and advertising of individuals, activities and events related to woven tapestry.

 

...the moon is the divine weaver who spins threads of cosmic rain and weaves the night sky to guide the journey through the universe...

 

Tapestry weaving is my vehicle to investigate what it means to be a human being, influenced by the natural landscape and beauty of the earth. Weaving is one of those original crafts that has been practised by almost every culture on the planet. It is part of our basic human cultural inheritance and as such, touches a place of deep knowing in us all. The Mayans say that when a woman ties herself into her backstrap loom, she ties herself to the cosmos. The universe, they say, was woven into being.

The “Weaving the Community Together” concept developed at Arts Ottawa East has touched many thousands of people in just a few years, permitting community participation in their own public art. The very favourable and encouraging public and media response to these projects is awakening a new awareness of contemporary tapestry weaving as public art. Communities are learning that tapestry weaving is professionally practised, exhibited, collected, and taught. Tapestry has needed a more public profile and community tapestry projects are providing this.

 

Only 30 minutes from the heart of downtown Vancouver, the University of British Columbia holds an international reputation for excellence in advanced research and learning.

The spectacular UBC campus is a 'must-see' for any visitor to the city -- where snow-capped mountains meet ocean, and breathtaking vistas greet you around every corner.

The university boasts some of the city's best attractions & recreation facilities, including the Museum of Anthropology, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, and endless opportunities to explore forested trails in the adjoining 763-hectare Pacific Spirit Regional Park.

Masters of the Spirit

 Norman Bethune Tapestry

 

Implicit in this objective is an active involvement in government, social, economic and educational issues as they affect the Arts in Alberta, and to distribute information on available scholarships, material sources, exhibitions, shows and workshops to all interested parties.

In the early seventies there existed in Alberta a number of local weaving, spinning and dyeing guilds. Their members expressed an interest in forming a provincial organization. Representations were made to the Alberta government and the Certificate of Registration was received from the Companies Branch on November 14th, 1974. The first Annual General Meeting of the Hand Weavers, Spinners and Dyers of Alberta was held at Red Deer College on May 10th, 1975.

HWSDA has grown into one of Canada's most significant provincial fibre arts guilds. Members of HWSDA enjoy the following benefits: Annual Conference which includes a Juried Show, Fibre Fair, workshops, seminars and commercial marketplace: Library Loan Program, Weaving Certificate Program, Scholarships to Individuals, Financial Assistance to member groups and a quarterly newsletter, Running Threads.