Tapestry of Spirit: The Torah Stitch By Stitch Project

Rona Kosansky; cross-stitch on aida cloth; 13” wide; “Just before his death Moses views the Promised Land from Mt. Nebo. God would not allow him to enter because of an earlier transgression (Deuteronomy 34:1-4)”. Design courtesy of Ann Logan; image courtesy of Torah Stitch by Stitch.

The Textile Museum of Canada presents Tapestry of Spirit, from June 12 – November 17, 2019

Tapestry of Spirit presents the ambitious and inclusive social project to cross stitch the first five books of the Bible as well as selections from the Scriptures and Qur’an, reflecting on the theme of creation. It is an immersive installation that has been collectively created by almost 1500 volunteers of many faiths, under the artistic leadership of Temma Gentles (Toronto). Visitors will journey through nearly 1000 panels in three languages (Hebrew, Greek and Arabic) including illuminations and embellishments by stitchers from 28 countries who have interpreted these ancient narratives into contemplative, often highly personal expressions.

The award-winning documentary short film Stitchers: Tapestry of Spirit (directed by Tassie Notar and produced by 90th Parallel) will play throughout the exhibition.

Opening reception: Wednesday June 12, 5 - 8:30 PM. All are welcome!

Edit-a-thons aim to ensure craftswomen's legacy on internet

Ditchling museum will hold Wikipedia-editing sessions to redress gender imbalance

Elizabeth Peacock (left). Photograph: Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts

The crafts industry has become the latest sector to attempt to tackle the internet’s gender imbalance, after a museum warned the legacy of the UK’s most important craftswomen is at risk of being forgotten.

Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft is to hold a series of Wikipedia edit-a-thons in June. It open its doors to volunteers who will be taught how to create and edit Wikipedia pages to include significant 20th-century craftswomen. The edit-a-thon is one of hundreds taking place around the world aiming to mitigate the lack of information about women online.

Abby Butcher, communications manager at Ditchling museum, says craftswomen are “undoubtedly” at risk of being forgotten and suffer from gender bias that sees male artists such as Eric Gill dominate discussions of crafts history.

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“It’s the usual factors you’d expect: they’re women and they were working in the early 20th century, and there were a lot of male craftspeople who were dominating that scene. That’s the obvious patriarchy argument,” says Butcher, who believes the situation is exacerbated by the fact that less than 10% of Wikipedia editors are women.

“The story of Ditchling is dominated by Eric Gill because he was such a big figure but there are a lot of hidden stories. You can trace the impact that a lot of these lesser-known artists have had across the arts and craft movement – there’s this lineage.”

The museum is holding two edit-a-thons, which have become popular ways for groups to tackle the dearth of female figures on Wikipedia pages in areas such as science and museum curation, on 1 June. Butcher believes for the younger generation, the internet is a vital research tool and if artists don’t have a presence, they can quickly become obsolete.

“So much important history is in out-of-print books or in people’s heads so it’s great we have the chance to get that down,” she said. “I think there’s a risk with Generation Z that if it isn’t online, it doesn’t count.

Read the rest on the Guardian website.

Tour of the Historic Brick Works in Toronto’s Don Valley

Sunday 9th of June 2019, 2 pm

Come to Evergreen Brick Works and explore the 130-year-old factory, transformed

by environmental charity Evergreen into a sustainable office complex and environmental

community centre. Our heritage-themed tour will explain the origins and architecture of

the brick factory, the process of brick-making, and tell some of the workers’ stories.

Tour fee: $14. Payable at the site. (Cash only please. Exact change appreciated.)

Please reserve by May 28 so tour arrangements can be made. E-mail: info@wmsc.ca.

Our gathering spot for tours is the Young Welcome Centre. 

Map: https://www.evergreen.ca/images/badges/VisGuide_201805_MAP.jpg 

Getting there:

https://www.evergreen.ca/evergreen-brick-works/visitor-info/getting-here/

A TTC bus departs from Davisville Station, 28 Southbound approximately every 20 minutes.

A free Evergreen Brick Works shuttle bus departs from the parkette on Erindale Avenue, just north of the Broadview subway station (Not in the station). It leaves on the hour and half hour on Sundays.

There is also paid parking at the Brick Works site.

Come down early and you can visit artisans’ booths on-site as well as having lunch beforehand at the Sunday market local food court, open 10am-3pm. You can pick from a broad array of options, including Persian food, Tibetan momos, Mexican street food, tapioca crepes, Turkish stuffed flatbread and churros with chocolate sauce. 

Background info

The Don Valley Brick Works (known now as the Evergreen Brick Works) is a former quarry and industrial site located in the Don River Valley. The Don Valley Brick Works operated for nearly 100 years and provided bricks used to construct many well-known Toronto landmarks, such as Casa Loma, Osgoode Hall, Massey Hall, and the Ontario Legislature. Since the closure of the original factory, the quarry has been converted into a city park which includes a series of naturalized ponds, while the buildings have been restored and opened as an environmentally focused community and cultural centre by Evergreen, a national charity dedicated to restoring nature in urban environments.

In 2009, National Geographic Traveler named Evergreen Brick Works one of the 10 finalists in its Geotourism Challenge 2009, "a global competition of tourism-related projects that promote natural and cultural heritage while improving the well-being of the local people". The 10 finalists were chosen from 610 entries from 81 countries.  In early 2017, Evergreen launched the redevelopment of the historic Kiln Building, creating a new hub for people across all sectors to collaborate in building sustainable cities. The project is one of the first in Canada to set and strive for a carbon-neutral target.

Tour of St Thomas Anglican Church

Join us for a Tour of St Thomas Anglican Church!

Saturday May 4th, 2019, 2 pm

383 Huron St

The church is an Arts and Crafts building designed by architect and parishioner Eden Smith (1858–1949) and was opened on January 17, 1893. The Memorial First World War Baptistery with Bromsgrove Guild stained glass windows was completed in 1922. 

The tour will be a joint one, with the rector, The Revd Mark Andrews and Dr. Carl Benn.



Getting here: TTC (click this link)
Take the subway to St George and exit via the St George exit (near the Bata Shoe Museum). 
Walk South to Bloor St, walk West one block to Huron Street, head South to St Thomas Anglican Church.

On the Origins of the Kelmscott Chaucer Typeface

Letters from the 15th Century:

On the Origins of the Kelmscott Chaucer Typeface

A Study, with Specimen Leaves, of the Influence of the Early

German Printers on William Morris’ Masterpiece.

This unique leaf book combines three elements—a significant private press production, a substantial
scholarly commentary that contributes to a further understanding of printing history, and a collection
of five leaves: one from the Kelmscott Press “Works of Geoffrey Chaucer” and four from books issued by German printers Morris most admired.

Written and issued by Phillip J. Pirages, the essay has been produced by gifted professionals; the
study addresses a topic of significance to typophiles in a considerably more thoroughgoing way than
has been done before; and the assemblage of leaves represents a powerful visual reinforcement of the
commentary.

The text will present information about Morris’ life and library, pull together previous relevant
observations in an entirely new way, and provide remarks about the early printers and the leaves
included as part of this production. Most important, the study will show, as objectively as possible,
likenesses between the early letterforms and those of the Chaucer by comparing each of Morris’ letters with each of the corresponding letters in the typefaces of Schoeffer, Mentelin, Zainer, and Koberger. And because of the assemblage of leaves, readers will not only be able to learn from the text about the influence on Morris of his typographic forebears, but also to compare with their own eyes the resemblances between the Kelmscott leaf and the leaves from four centuries earlier.

For more information, visit www.pirages.com and enter inventory number
ST15039 in the search box on the top right side of the home page.
Please contact us to reserve a copy at 503-472-0476 or info@pirages.com.

Morris & Co collaboration with Selamat

Morris designs in the media once again!

Morris' designs have seemingly once again captured the popular imagination, appearing in films and design shows, and have recently been part of a number of reimaginings and collaborations across clothing and furniture.

"A selection of Morris & Co.’s internationally recognized designs have been reimagined by Selamat..."

What are your opinions on the pared-down look of muted tones and simplified designs?

Here are just some of our favourites:

Visit the website here:

https://www.selamatdesignsco.com/morrisandco

WMSC 185th Birthday Celebration!

Thank you to everyone that cake to our symposium, and celebrated Morris' 185th Birthday with us!
The toast this year was given by Max Donnelly, "Fellowship is heaven" indeed!

The cake pattern this year was Seaweed!

The cake was chocolate with a mascarpone-black currant filling!
The cake was made by WMSC Board Member Lera Kotsyuba!

Watch the video below to see two days of work condensed into 4 minutes!