The Textile Museum of Canada

I recently visited the Textile Museum of Canada for the first time, specifically to visit their current exhibition "Cold Comfort: New and Improved Souvenirs of Canada", and to see their permanent collection of traditional souvenir pillows. I am writing an essay on souvenir pillows, which I had never heard of before, but are extremely fascinating. 

Beyond the Cold Comfort exhibit...

I want this ultra Canadiana handmade footstool and pillow from the gift store so bad!!

Felt painting (right), which I am dying to try, and etching on linen (left).

"As the charcoal is black, so are my prospects dark."

On your way out they ask you to leave a note for what you would like from a museum.

Jason wrote "Museum of Chocolate". I wrote "A museum where each visitor leaves an object behind. A museum of our belongings. A museum of us".

The Textile Museum of Canada is located at 55 Centre Ave. (Dundas St. West/University Ave.)
For more information visit http://www.textilemuseum.ca/

Nuit Blanche 2011 - Basil AlZeri - The Free Shop

"The Free Shop will challenge traditional notions of home, living archives, sense of belonging and most importantly emotional and materialistic attachment. The Free Shop is an interactive project that relies on both the structure of the installation and the artist's presence at the site at all times in order to facilitate the process. The quotidian transaction at The Free Shop is quite unique as it does not resemble typical daily transactions.On January 6, 2010, the artist lost nearly half of everything he owned, created and was given in a house fire. These events led him to question how attached we as a society are to material goods and how often we take things for granted and prompted him to challenge others to reflect on similar questions.
The artist's belongings that survived the fire will be on display in The Free Shop alongside all the new items he's acquired since the fire for the public to examine, choose from and take. Each visitor-customer from the public is welcome to examine "the products and personal items", to ask questions and choose one item they believe they have the need for."

http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/exhibition.aspx?zone=C&mapID=15

 

I was enthralled by the sentimental quality of Basil's installation, and its relation to my current thesis work. I felt like a real art groupie waiting in the the rain for 45 minutes for my turn to meet Basil and select my item. I couldn't resist telling him about my thesis and was elated to see how excited he was about the idea. He told me to mention him for my thesis...um YES! 

My patch, and the cardigan that my boyfriend got...which I usually wear. 

I attached a long chain to the patch that I got from The Free Shop and now I call this necklace my "thesis mojo"! I wear it everyday in the studio for inspiration and to keep me focused on my end goal. When people stop me to ask me about it I excitedly tell them about the best Nuit Blanche exhibit that I went to this year.

In all of the excitement I forgot to ask Basil about the narrative behind this patch that I got. What is it? Where did it come from? Who gave it to him? What did it mean to him? When he emails me I will be sure to ask him and update this post.

Basil AlZeri's website will be operational soon. Keep an eye out! http://www.thefreeshop.ca/

For now you can visit him at http://basilalzeri.tumblr.com/

Nuit Blanche 2011 - Residue

 

Richelle Forsey

Peter Brickell

Kevin McBride

Sandros Valencia

Rimma Skeini

Jamie Thompson

"Experience the thrill of an urban adventure and explore the residue left behind the hoarding of closed factories, derelict homes and our cultural past. You will discover the excitement of found artistic treasure(s) while you navigate your way through real and projected debris, traces of light, music and industrial noise. Peer through holes in the walls, examine discarded furniture and what remains when the occupants who once lived, worked or worshiped within  them leave.

At the end of your adventure there will be a gallery featuring urban exploration photographs. We invite you to sit and consider the disconnect between the spaces where urban exploration art is made and where it is presented for public consumption."

http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/iProjects.aspx?zone=B&mapID=33

For more information on The Residue Group visit http://www.theresiduegroup.com/