​The ACT Art Gallery is delighted to welcome back the Whonnock Weavers and Spinners Guild for their first exhibition in the gallery in nearly 10 years. The intriguing title of the exhibition, Out of the Woods, draws on the larger theme of the September conference in Vancouver of the Textile Society of America. Both events demonstrate the deep and enduring connections between traditional textiles, and their reinvention for today’s needs and markets.

The diversity of the Guild, and the range in ages, amply qualifies them to take on the broad scope of this theme. As is often the case with the more successful guilds, the constant introduction of new members and ideas ensures a healthy exchange and awareness of new trends while the older, more experienced members ensure that high standards are upheld.

Unusually, for this exhibition, manmade textiles will be accepted (generally, only natural fibres are considered exhibition worthy). The exception is justified on this occasion because of the group’s challenge to demonstrate how synthetic materials can be transformed into both functional and purely artistic objects to great effect. It is this kind of outside-the-box thinking that has spawned materials such as tyvak, kevlar and goretex, synthetics that have been adapted with remarkable success in the building, safety, medical, sporting and transportation industries.

This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Ellen Hamilton, a long-time member of the Whonnock Guild, and one who contributed at many levels, including the envisioning of the upcoming exhibition.

The Whonnock Weavers and Spinners Guild was formed in 1974, and welcomes the participation of felters, knitters, basket makers, dyers, rug hookers and anyone interested in these art forms. Members benefit from exciting programs including demonstrations, visual presentations, slideshows, workshops, sales and community activities. For more information, visit the Guild’s website at www.wwsg.ca 

The ACT Arts Council operates the ACT Art Gallery, located inside The ACT Art Centre. In fulfilling its mission to broaden and enrich the public’s appreciation and understanding of visual culture, it presents stimulating and diverse displays of artwork by local, regional and national artists and artisans.

Visitors are welcome to visit the gallery at no charge from Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 11am to 4pm, as well as on selected evenings to coincide with theatre performances.

Please visit us at www.theactmapleridge.org/gallery

Location: The ACT Art Gallery (at The ACT Arts Centre) 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 6G1
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 8 – Saturday, October 27, 2018
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 8 from 2-4pm (free)
Hand spinning demos: 12:30-3pm on Fri, Sept. 14; Sat, Sept. 22; Fri, Oct 12 and Sat, Oct. 13
Regular Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am-4pm and selected evenings

“Leap and the Loom Will Appear” is an upcoming exhibition by 82-year-old, world-renowned Canadian Fibre Artist Sola Fiedler, known for her intricately woven tributes to cities that have hosted Olympic Games. Each hyper-realistic tapestry took the artist as much as five years to complete. Self-taught, Sola's method is as impressive as the final piece: Using yarn from recycled sweaters, she meticulously weaves large-scale cityscapes in pinpoint detail, from the number of floors in a building to the colour of the trees and water. Her work captures the architectural elements and spirit of each city at that moment in time. “Even a year or two after I’ve finished a tapestry, it becomes a historical document because [the cities have] already built a number of new buildings,” Sola says in her promotional video. “When I did the Las Vegas tapestry – because that was a nighttime portrait – I went out at night, and I was trying to actually weave light, and that was incredibly difficult.” The show – which takes place in a 1500 square feet gallery on Granville Island – is part of the Textile Walking Tour on Granville Island, presented in conjunction with the Textile Society of America’s 16th Biennial Symposium on September 19 to 23, 2018.

Leap and the Loom Will Appear runs from Friday, September 21 to Tuesday, October 2, 2018, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm daily and Friday, September 21, it will be open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm at 1359 Cartwright Street on Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C., V6H 3R7. The Opening Reception occurs on Thursday, September 20 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The artist will be in attendance.