Quilt represents vision of reconciliation
- NC Raine | December 19, 2018
A Reconciliation Quilt is currently on display in the gallery of Mistasinihk Place in La Ronge. Consisting of nine squares, the creation is a small sample of how residents in the La Ronge area expressed their own exploration into the topic of reconciliation.
An Artists in Communities grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board made it possible for the Alex Robertson Public Library to host Miriam Körner as the Artist/Writer-in-Residence in 2018. In partnership with the La Ronge Arts Council, the year began with a series of workshops on the theme of Reconciliation through Art.
Local artist Allen Morrow was one of the presenters.
“I really enjoyed sharing my ideas and techniques that I use to portray the messages,” said Morrow.
Other presenters in the series included Anne Cook, Jennifer Cook, Leah Dorion and Nancy Lafleur, as well as Körner. At each workshop, participants spent time expressing themselves in art or the written word, with the opportunity to share their reflections with each other.
After the workshop series concluded, the library hosted Open Arts Studio sessions that allowed the dialogue to continue and participants to work on individual projects, or to contribute to the Reconciliation Quilt.
Most people chose to use needle-felting to create their squares, said Körner, as it is a very accessible medium.
Ellen Paquin’s contribution is in the centre of the quilt.
“The inspiration for this piece,” says Paquin, “came from listening to teachings about wahkohtowin – the understanding that everything is related and interconnected: relationships, communities and natural systems.”
Besides being one of the presenters, Anne Cook also created a square for the quilt.
She says, “Reconciliation begins as an inward journey towards understanding ourselves and discovering love, which is then shared with all Creation.”
The quilt will be on display at the Mistasinihk Place Gallery until December 20, 2018.