|
|
fall 2009 |
 |
|
a & e
Weaving a common thread
Traditional hooked rug finds home at NLMA
|
|
|
Click to enlarge
Jonathan Carpenter Photo |
|
Circle of Life |
|
|
Visitors arriving at the NLMA will now be greeted by a vibrant hand-made portrayal of the unique land and seascapes that are characteristic of Newfoundland and Labrador’s rugged coastline.
|
|
|
|
By NLMA Staff with files from Francis Ennis |
|
Visitors arriving at the
NLMA will now be greeted by a vibrant hand-made portrayal
of the unique land and seascapes that are characteristic
of Newfoundland and Labrador’s rugged coastline.
The
wall-sized traditional hooked rug, titled Circle of Life,
depicts a stained glass motif of Sleepy Cove, a stretch
of shoreline between Fort Amherst and Cape Spear near St.
John’s. The image also features Peggy’s Leg, a distinct
rock formation jutting out from the cliff, which once
served as a familiar landmark for local fisherman.
The
work was completed in January 2006 by sisters-in-law
Maxine and Frances Ennis and their daughters, Andrea
Ennis and Sheila Coultas respectively. The artists created
the piece in response to a call for submissions by the
Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador for a
contemporary hooked rug exhibit.
The 60”x 90” design,
which consists of 80 per cent primitive rug hooking
and 20 per cent oil painting, was completed in four
months after more than 300 hours. It was initially
featured at a hooked rug exhibit in New Orleans and
later hung at The Rooms gallery in St. John’s before
finding a permanent home at the NLMA.
Artist Francis
Ennis recounts that Sleepy Cove once served as a popular
fishing berth for members of her family for nearly a century.
“While the men harvested the fishing grounds, the women
cleaned and salted the fish, spread it on flakes to dry
and gathered it when the sun went down. Including this
particular piece of coastline in our work ensured that
it was truly steeped in family history,” she says.
Artist
Maxine Ennis even included fabric materials from five
generations of her family members. In total, there are
more than 150 colors and textures weaved together with
recycled wool, yarns and fabrics on a single sheet of
Scottish burlap.
According to the artists, the sea,
together with the landscape and the life forms found
there, connects the past and present. The circular
pattern of the sun and the brilliant rays of light
radiating from it, represent the wholeness of life
and hope for the future. It’s that kind of symbolism
that intrigued NLMA Executive Director Rob Ritter.
“For
years, physicians of this province travelled along
coastlines like the one depicted in this artwork to
provide medical care to people in remote communities.
We selected this work because of its cultural and
economic connections to the people of the province
and the hopes of present day generations as the province
ushers in a new era of prosperity.”
|
