ISSN 0833-8248
September/October 1986
Photo by Don Rowe
"Spinning"
From Sheep To Garment In Only Three Hours! (See Page 7)
ALBERTA CRAFTS COUNCIL
Council Contacts
Memo From The President
Vice President
President Les Manning
Margaret Best Calgary 259-8304
Canmore 678-5216 (h) 762-6211 (w)
Les Manning Besident
Treasurer
Past President
bonnie Murdoch Calgary 246-6674
Don Smitten
Surnmerhas slippedby once again md we are well into the creativespirit of Fall; creativein that everyoneis usuallyat
475-5593
market;schoolskicking off sessions with a new group of
home base: craftsmen full force into producing for the prime
Edmonton
"keen-to-be-artists"; and the organizations gearing up for specialevents to raise our profile.
Secretary
From all indicationsthe summer months with their many
Martha Campiou-Zarutzky Winterburn
tourists and local travellers, have supported us well. In attending the Canadian Crafts Council Conference in Vancouver many comments were passed around about
047-3493
increased sales and new excitement from all comers of Canada,includingBanff. The Alberta Crafts Council could take advantageof this ripple and make it a tidal wave in the
Directors
best interestof craft.
Pat Barford
Karen Cantine
'We cannotdiscovernew oceansunlesswe have the cowage to lose sight of the shore." — AndreGide
Edmonton 439-2934
Edmonton
452-5615
Edmonton
Joyce Chorny Calgary
Katherine Hutton
Annette Greenberg
Don Doherty
I alludingto RISK.We are now in a positionthathas a flavourof positivenessand opportunity,so we need to react. We lack properpromotion.We need to make people awareof our existenceandthe valueof the workwe do. Perhapswe can do some RISK craft now, meaningnothingmore than doing someof thosepowerfuland uniquepieces, or those outrageous ones you've alwayswantedto do. We have an audiencewho
268-5270
Edmonton 439-0861
Edmonton 487-0714
Marilyn Prodanchuk Cochrane 932-6632
respond to individualstatements and personalities - dare to be different! You can expect to see the Alberta Crafts Council take
Tony Mandamin
advantageof these signals and our recent swdies to begin the profileof crafts and you the makers . In the
Edmonton
083-6053
near future many showcase events will support these goals md draw attentionto our fine art of craft.
Alberta Craft Newsletter
Area Representatives Lynne HunterJohnston Lethbridge 320-2441
The Alberta Craft Newsletter will be undergoing changes for the better during the next few months. We are upgrading the design, content, layout, the calendar of events, advertising rates, and frequency of publication to maximize these
Shannon Read
Red Deer 340-1734
Any suggestions on improvement of the newsletter are encouraged and welcomed—pleasesend your ideas along to the Alberta Crafts Council Offices, and they will be taken into consideration. In the meantime,the SubmissionDeadline for the Next Alberta Craft Newsletteris October 15, 1986.
Alberta Crafts Council Office
Bobbi Hoffman Executive Director 428-1654
Photo Credits
Sandra Reading Admin. Assistant
Alberta Craft/September-October 1986
Cover-Don Ware Les Manning—Fred Katz Sheep to Garment--DonWare MargaretBest--MartinRiehl
428-1654
2
The Canadian Craft Council Conference '86 By Karen Cantine ACC Representative
stated purpose of Conference '86 was 'b stimulate discussionaddressingissues from a nationalnature to those that affectpersonallifestyle,thought,and creativity."To that end was assembledan impressiveroster of speakers and
is stmdzd glÜS walls; Seattle Ciy Lighes manhole covers in King Co.; metal c%orsand gates; wall and floor tiles. Moore surnmed it all up by saying, "let's cover earth with craft!" Sunday's serninzs were on organizadons; education'
panelists. Fridays meetings were devoted to 'Forti&ing our Cultural
criticisrn;aesthetics/design;and tæhrrology•,
Position."Bnmo Freschi, Chief Architectof Expo '86, was the keynotespeakerand tided his talk 'The Art of Crafting Place." His slide presentationon Expo's developrnentwas entertaining.Perhapsmore interestingwere his thoughtson how we are entering a "post-professional" phase. The professional was marked by high tech specialization. exclusivity.me post-professional phase is dealingwith the failures of techn010Ü, recogizing the importance of interrelationshipsand bringing about greater integration. These points were echoed in the panel discussionthat
While the speakersat Conference'86 were interestingand informative,the seminars and panel discussions that I attendedwere prettydry. Everyoneseemedto agræ with each otha. there was no lively debate,no startlingconclusions reuhed. Many of the panelistsdid have interestingtales to tell of the ups and downsof theirexperiences in the business of craft or craftmarketing.Muchof this of information was exchangai informally. The Conference '86 International Day led off with anthropologist Dr. Edward T. Hall of Northwestern University. His was titled "Rhythm and Creativity". He spoke of how culttra_lidentitiesare cornmunicatd through
followed.
O
The afternoonwas filled with seminarson changingpublic perceptions;code of ethics; activating the as advocate;meeting the changing social conditions; and understandingcreativity. Saturday's me&gs dealt with marketing. The morning's speaker was Malcolm Chief Executiveof the Wales Craft Council.He spokein detail aboutthe marketing stridesthat the WalesCoumcilhas madein the last few years. They have a two level membership:regular and professional. The organizationis thereprimarilyto serve the professional or production craftsperson. Wales has strong traditional craftsand a well establishedtouristtradewhichhelp set the stage for a successfulmarketingcampaign. He sited the example of their traditionallyproducedwoolen products which are now sold all over the world the label 'The Welsh
time, spa:e and rhythm. and illustratedwhat he meant by demonstrating examples of the way people of different cultureswalk differently(to differentrhythms).He madeeach
of us considerthe variousrhythmsin our lives. especially
those dictated by the processes that we as craftspeople perform.Ih Hall was a very entertainingspeaka•. In the aftemoon CCC Director Peter Weinrich spoke on craft infrasructuresworldwide. World Craft Council Day was Tuesday. August 19. After welcome and introduction Anders Clason. WCC presiderL the keynotespeakerwas LDr. HatErt Ganslmayr.a museum director from West Germany.He SP)ke of die social relevawe
of museurns,that they are not-for-profit organizations for
service of society's development. They preserve, and exhibit i&nüy of peoples,nations, and societies.
Touch".
The most colorfulspeakerat the conferencewas probably Len Laycock,the MarketingManag< of IKEA. After spelling
The WCC panelistswere refreshhlgin that they took us away from our own sometimesmyopicconcems.In the third world craft is pracücedfor livelihoodas a necessity.not by choice.The most notable speakerswere Jack Lemr Larson on the Thai silk Dr. Sori Yanagi. Director of the JapaneseFolk Craft Museumwho startedthe "Living
out the nine pointsof the IKA philosophy,he gave us four simple marketingobjectives:1) to continuallyattract new customers;2) to encol.ragecustomersto make frequent visits; 3) to explainbenefitsof shoppingat IKEA so that the customeris assuredthat he/she is makingthe best choice;4) program; Victor Margrie, Director of the create empathybetweenconsumas and ourselves(IKEA)by Treasure" British Craft exhibitinga natural and easygoingstyle. After this pretty Africzr CulturalCouncil; md IndrasenVarratachellurnof the Institute. romanticsoftsell he said "OK. we're yotr competition.whd Of course conferencessuch this are not all speechesand are you going to do aboutit?" This to an audiencemade up meetings. Upon our arrivalThursdaynight at tie UBC carnpus almost entirely of producers and marketers of hand made were welcomedat a wine cheese reception.Friday crafts!But he is right: IKEAis doing the light thing at the we therewerebussesto take us to a speciallyarranged right time. They are our competitionand it is importantthat evening shop and studio open housetour on GranvilleIsland. we as individualsand organizationsrecognize night thQ was a marveloussalmonbarbequeoutdoorsat the Sunday was devoted to the future. The keynote
o
speaker was Museum of Anthrorx)logy which. after Dale Chihulyu of Eudora Moore, a writer/curatorand forrnerly Crafß Advisor to Pilchuck School and Juk Lencr Larsm spoke in the National Endowment of the Arts, from Pasadena, conversation. ended with a lovely sparkler finale. The World Califomia,Moore was the most positive and up-beatof all Craft hosted the speakers.She hd a fine selectionof slides to illustrate Tuesday.The eveningswerelunch ard a Hiffet dinner on with uips to downtown her talk on craft in public places. Moore advocatesart and Vancouver, Expo, beaches. ThQ were also craft as an integral part of surrotmdingsand celebrations irnpromptuslide of euh otha•swork.
as to "Plop"art (the leavingof spacesto "plop"in a All in all a rich, intenseweek whose piece of sculpture).She had marvelousexamples—enameled workyou'dadmiredand always of oldtofriends. meet. andnew elevator doors (designed by an artist and produced at a who soonbecarne friends. plumbing fixture factory where enamelling such large peices
3
September-October1986/Alberta Craft
commissionbßed on the retail Bice will be charged to cover Kiministrativematters such as receiving and processing of etc. orders, Your continued patience and consideration regarding our blvolvernent in the XV Winter Olympic Games will be appreciated. Our volunteer committee consisting of Karol Johnsen, Paul Makosz and Bob Held hope to continue to the necessaryexpertise to ensure that the mernbers Of die Alberta Crafts Council benefit from üle XV Winter OlympicGames.The Alberta Crafts Council is indebted to thernfor dleir efforts.
Craft Marketing: Olympic Report By Margaret Best
VicePresident
From the ffat volunteer committee structures were formed to design the Arts Festival component of the XV Winter Olympic Games in Calgary,the AlbertaCrafts Comcil in place on has been involved. We have had a representative the Crafts WorkingCommitteein the hopes of maximizing opportunitiesoffered by this intemationalfocus. It is to this end that I have been workingon behalfof the memtErship sinceJune 1985. By KatherineHutton Progress has been slower than we would have liked. Ora.i_rman. ProgramsCommittee However, rewards for our efforts beginningto ernerge and we hope in the not too distant future,to be makingsome Firstly,I'd like to thank the volunteerswho contributedtheir vital announcernentsthroughthis newsletter. time and energy to ensure diat the ACC's participationin Firstly, we would like you to know that space for craft 'Ihe Works: A Visual Arts Celebration",was a success: marketingwas sought and has been confirmedby OCO '88, Carmen Brady, Amette Greenberg, Bobbi Hoffman, Julie that will enable us to market craft producedby the Koshman, Eleanor Lypowy, Michelle Matthews, Lorraine membershipin key locations.ApparentlyFrankKing referred New, Kathy Palmer, Sandra Reading, Betty Weir and Elsa to this in a recent radio interview.However,as stated at our Zahar. As well. dlank you to Jim Lomo Of Plainsman Clay Annual General Meeting, we have a much larger long-tern Lid David Settles of Ceramics Canada (Calgary) for üleir plan currentlybeing researchd and conünueto workclosely donationof clay. and to Bonnie Miller, who donatedher time with a contractedconsultant.We will informthe membership in fring tie claytiles. of the detailsas theseplansbecomefinalized. Duringthe ten day festival, about 550 people participated
The Works: A Visual Arts
Celebration
Futher positive news is that we now have in place, a
in the makingof clay tiles for a mural to be installedin a venue in Edmonton. Participants ranged from toddlers to grandparents,and several were visiting from China,Spål and Australia.The responsefrom the public was
structure that will enable protocol deparünentsof both OCO '88 and the FederalOlympicOfficesto purchaseAlbertancraft items for gifting puposes. During the summer months with rather short notice, but with the valued help of volunteers Karol Johnsenand Bill Morton.I made two presentationsto the relevant protocol managers. The purpose of these presentationswas not to promote any members in particular, but merely to provide.awarenessof the types of high-quality crafts available throughour membership.It is importantto note, however, that I consultedthe list of those individuals who had contributedto our CorporateGift Prograrnand those who have ensured that we have updated portfolios of their work. I attemptedto give each mediumfair rqresentationas well. I am pleased to be able to announce drat sarnple purchases of work of the followingmembers were made: Carol Little, SkookumArt Glass,BarbaraKreutter,EvelynGrmt Eld Greta Speier. We have received letters of thanks and enthusiasm from both Olympic offices regarding the work displayed and feel that from about Fe&uarynext year, many more of our memberswill be givenconsideration. It is extremely importantfor me to IXIintout trat an object, no matter how outstanding in workmanship md design, will not be considered for purchase unless it is properlypackaged.To be more explicit,the packagingmust be attractive enough for presentation purposes and yet provide ample security if fragility is a concern. We feel that it is Lhe members' to be creadve the
overwhelmingly positive! The ACC looks forwardto participadngin
Works" again next summer. We would like to jointly sponsor a FOject with a memberorganizationor a group of individual craftspeople. We've heard nothing but encouragement for Biblic participationprojects.It's a wonderful way to irmduce the public to tie variousorganizaüons.craftspeoplemd their work. I wouldlike to receiveyour suggestionsand proposalsfor participationin 'The Works-AVisual Art Celebration1987". I will be happyto answerany queriesyou may have in regard to submitting proposals for this event, and can contacted at (403) 439-0861 after 6 pan.
-4
provision of pEkaging to meet these requirements.The
additional costs must be into the final cost of the object to the customer. Since the Alberta Crafts Council is now officially recognized as the vehicle for suitable, Alberta-made craft for Olympic gifting purposes, it became necessary to formalize a policy regarding a fee for the service. A 20%
Alberta Craft/September-October1986
4
Task Force On Artists Faces Tough Task by Allan Sheppard
diat CommtmicationsMinister Masse cannot plEe on the legislativeagerxiain caucus. The everyday irritants of the artists life are easy to
Question: Can üle Federal Task Force on the Status of die Artist anythingto irnprove lot of Canadianartistsif it does not look at the status of the arts in Answer 1: (If you ask the two membersof Task Force, Paul Siren and GratienGelinas...)Yes. Answer 2: Cf you ask mem) I doubt it. Answer 3: (f you ask the average member of the general
idarti%' ard define. The solutionsare obvious.even if the
nation has avoided implementing them for more years than we care to admit- So they confme their attentionto bread-andHitter matters of btreaucratic procedure and interpretation, rather than to plicy mattersrequiring fritiative. When artists talk about bread-and-butterissues, they talk about incomes that are well the general average Cmadims md significantly below dle average Ior for rrofessionals with equivalent skills and training. They talk about income tax regulations which force them to accept self-
Paul Siren and Gratien Gelinas are sincere, dedicated
honourablemen. They are eminentlyqualifiedto conductan enquiry into economic, social and political status of artists in this country and to recommend anropriate legislative action to correct the most obvious inequities whichexist Siren retired recentlyafter more than 20 years as General Secretary of Actra, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Televisionand Radio Artists, an associationhe is proud to describeas both a union and a professionalorganizationfor its Gelinashad a long and distinguishedcareeras an actor and playwrightfor stage. film md televisionand served a terrn
ernployedstatusin orderto be able to deductthe rue costsof ffeir ernploymentfrom their gross income, thQby giving up their rights to unemployrrl<lt Other social yet they have little 0M)ortunity control their own destinies in ways that self-employed status wouldnormallyimply. They talk about copyright Cid performer's rights which, if adequatelyupdated and enforced. would enable them to collectmore of the revenueto whichthey are
but whichtheycannotreceivebecauseso manyof us
Ä)py and otherwise exploit their work without paying for the
Vice-PresidentOfQu&c's Uniondes artistes.
Fivilege.
They are not your typicalpoliticalhack, milkinghis or
O
They talk about managements and bureaucracies which pay themselves the relatively marginal amounts necessary to standard employment benefic but cry "poor" when asked to the same benefits for artists who work for them or withh•rtheir jurisdictions. They talk about copyright md performer's rights observationswith input from artists and uts administrators wHch, if a&quately updated and enforced, would from every discipline in every region. ney have received enable them to collect more of the revenue to which their mandate from a Minister of Communications.Marcel Q,able they are entitled but which they cannot receive Masse, who seems genuinely to care about the low status so many of us copy md otherwiseexploit their work without which we concede to our artists who appearedto be paying for the vrivilege. They talk about managements and determined to do something about it. (No-one yet knows how Hireaucræies which pay themselves the relatively marginal the new Minister,Flora MacDonald,feels on the subject) standard employrnent benefits In short, they have everythingthey need to do the job arnounts necessary to
her way through patronage am)0intrnents.They know the problemsan artist must face to earn a decent.dignifiedliving in this country.They know what has to be done to solve those problems. •niey have travelled across die comtry supplementing their personal, first-hand knowledge and
Hit cry "poor"when asked to providethe same benefitsfor artists who work for them or within their jurisdictions.They talk about the sarne things they have talked for years, md with same &gree of intensityand justification.So why shouldwe assumethat they will have any more success
they have to do acept die }reciouscommoditythat they ze committedto &velopingfor their artist colleagues;md
It is perhaps the sharpest. most bitter irony of all that while these dedicated, sincere and honourable men have stature (respect)in the arts communityand in the nation.they lack the very status (economic,social and pliLical weight) which they seek for their colleagues and which may be necessary to place the unsatisfactorylives and livelihoodsof our artists on the political agendas of this country md its various governrnents.They are not personallyto blame for this state of affairs;it simplyreflectsthe fact that the arts as a whole do not rank very high in the nationalgherne of dlings. Thus the question which began tris discussion:is it possibleto deal with problemsdefinedby the status of the artist without addressing the overall status of the arts? Partly from necessity, and partly from choice, the Sirenßelinas Task Force has assumed an affirmative answer to that question. For reasons of protocol, they cannot deal with matters currendy before other task forces, including the funding of the arts, broadcasting, and the National Arts Centre. For pragmatic reasons, they will not deal with matters
speaking to and through Mr. Siren and M. Gelinas than they have had in tie past?
def<lding their positions on
income tax
interpretations, ucess to benefits and similar matters, artists rx.)rmallypoint to special arrangements which have
made to resF*Ctthe special conditions and interests of fishermenand farmers.They are right to so, but I arn afraid it will take more than stating the obviousto gain sirnilar 1. Fishermen and farmers occupy, and are sen to occupy,
aitical positionsin the nation'seconomy.If utey did mt
fish or farm, the nation would lose obvious, essential
resourcesand economicbenefits. sarnecamot be said for mists. They occupy important, but scarcely critical in the sarne sense, positionsin the economy,and those positiors are undervalued (if Eknowledgedat all) by the publicmd the pliticians. If artists were to stop working,most Canadians
would be surp-ised if there were significant economic losses. Thus farmers and fisherman have economic weight which is
5
September&tober 1986/Alberta Craft
alreadyhave.That is true; but diat is not. I what the generalpublic in Canadaperceives to be true. And as that 2. Significmt numbersof farmersand fisha-menmrrsue great political philosopher,Erik Neilsen, sdd recently, "in their activities in identifiableconstituenciesand regions of plitics, percqtionis reality."Like it or not. the stamsof mist is a politicalissue. constituencies in Canada. n•leir votes are concQtrated and I un afraidelis meansis that any recommendations What predictablein ways to whichpoliticianscan respond-Artists, on the other hand, are geogaphicallyscattered,inconsistent which the Siren/Gelinas Task Force may make to improve the and unpredictable.Thus farmersand have political statusof artistswill be perceivedby the public to be enhancementsof already privileged positions, as special weight-yieldingstatus and power,while mists do Mt. 3. Farmersand fishermenare understoodby tre avaage ness to benefitswhich other Canadianswould also like to Canadianto pursue their occupationsfrom circumstanceand have but will never get. If that happens,it will take strong to changeanything. personalor regional necessity,not from choice. Given the politicians tirne and place in which they have to work, they do what they Therefore,the Task Forceon üle Statusof die Artist will have to do no harrn ; neither will it do much good. What mt what they want to do; they would do somethingelse if theyhad otheropportunities. will somegood is a concentrated effort by everyonewho Artists, on the other hand. do what they want to do, not qpreciates, suports or benefits frorn the work of artists to what they have to do. They indulgethemselves;ürey are not everythingthey can to elevate the Biblic perceptionof compelled by circumstmces,they are obsßsedwith them.If utists—and the arts—as functional, B0ductive, næessary they wanted to, artists could somethingelse with their componensin the economic,political md social fabric of lives, somethingfor which taxpayerswouldnot have to pay. the comtry. That is a job for die artists themselves, Working Thus farmersmd fisherrnen havesocialand moralweight im relatingto and on Oleircommunities.
reflected in dle status and power given to thern and its governmens. md artistsdo noL
die cotmry
and validity. while artistsdo not.
Artists will argue,and PaulSiren and GratienGelinaswill and docunent their arguments,that these and other
Bullet Editor's note: The report of the SireWGelinasTask Force on the Status of the Artist was due to go to the argurnentsfor or explanations of their IEk of economic, Ministerof Com.munications on June 30, in time for to politicaland socialstatusare misleading.Theyhaveelements prepare legislationfor the fall session of Parlianent.him [The of auth, but theydo not reflectreality.Artists not expect rqort wasreleasedAugust29, 19861. and are not lookingfor specialtreatmentIhey simplywant what other similarlyeducated,trainedand modvatedworkers Reprintd with permissionfrom The EdmontonBullet Hands
Across
The
Water:
Kites
at
the
Muttart
By Katherine Hutton Program Comrnittee Chairman
Due to the shortmtice, and sunrner (always too short!), we ræeival a limited number of Etes. However,although gnall in number,the six kites were beautiful!There was a paintedrice paper kite, colourfulfabric kites, a paper kite, Earlier this year the ACC was presented the opporturütyto Mideven a kite mule of sterlingsilver and 14k gold! Ihanks participatein a of exhibitions.Both were put on at TerryJuzak,Leni Balabanand the Fort McMurrayArts & short Crafts Guild, Tony Austin and Sly Houston for your One of these was the "Hands Across The Water" exhibit- participation. Tre ACC was invited to participate an exhibitionof The responseto tMs Ype Of projæt has been positive, minamretextilés in Australia.Time was short,but we felt it with exceptionof drne constraints.We would like your was an omonunityworthwhilepresentingto otr members. inputthe on this F0ject for a futureoccasion.Please,volunteer Throughthe effortsof dle ACC office staff and voluntees, your comments, and time wheneverpossible.If you have any informadonwas sent out and entriesreceivd questions atmlt how much volunteerti_rneis to be anticipated The jrors reviewed all entries and offered trir in my project, call the ACC office at 428-1654or myselfat otxervationsand recommendations.It was felt thal Ole 439-0861after 6 p.m. submissions did not rqresent the broader scope of work I lookforwardto all your Ik.rticipationon futue being done in the province,and due to short mtice, there were not enough entries for international<ltry level exhibition. Ihaefore, it was recommendedthat Alberta Artisc be given sufficienttime to prepare for next oppornmity. In full supB)rtof the jurorsrecommendations, we thank \ f them for assistingthe ACC in looking after WHOLE WORKS WHEAT best interesc of our members.We all look forwardto the of future exhibitions.
I would u) thank all the artists Your reponse and of this decisionhas
positive and much appreciated.Thank you to tie ACC staff md
voltmteas for yotr effortsin presaltingthisQorumity. secord FOject was a kite display at the Muttart
Conservatory. It was our first attanpt to invite to participate
sutrnittingkites in vrü)us media.
Alberta Craft/September-October 1986
6
DEBORAH MORGAN MARTIN
5014•% Str•et
CAMROSE.ALBERTA uV 2C9
(403)672-8105
o
From
Sheep
To
Only
Three
Hours
Garment
In
ByLyn Pßueger
BraggCreek
o
A Sheep to GarrnentCompetitionis a fim event in which teamsrival to transformfleeceinto garments or less. Each team is composedof a shearer,ain threehours weaver,four spinners- and a sheep.Tearnsare usually organized but sometimesare simply a group of friends. by guilds, This type of competitionhas been popular for centuries, predatingthe Indus&ialRevolution,andBritain in ColonialAmerica. Its purposenow, as it was then. is to encourage craftsmento display their skill at their craft, and to educate and entertain the generalpublic.The SheepCreek Weavers(a weaving and spinning guild from Millarville,Alberta) have been hosting a competitioneach summer for the last eight years. Placing The Sheep always found that the public enjoys the event They have enormously, the excitementas the teams finish each garment and the nervousnesswhile awaitingthe judges' decision are felt by bothtearmsandspectators. The contest begins with the shearingof the sheep. As each sheepis shorn,its shearerraces the fleeceto spinners,who card the wool and then spin it ültothe waiting yarn. The weaver at this stage is sitting anxiously at her loom, which is Warpedand ready, waiting for enoughyarn to begin her job she then weavesthe fabric in the patternwhich the team has chosenfor the garment.Once the fabric is complete; from the 100m,and sewn into the finishedpiece: it is cut all seams, herns,and ernbellishments are quicklydonenow by all tearn members, and the finished garment is modelled by a member Of the tearn for rresentationto thejudges. Judgesare professionals Olefield of fibre arts, and they evaluateeach garmenton both technicalskill design.Eachteamis expectedto producea and imaginative garmentin which Warpdesign,ffe handspunweft, md weavingpattern are compatiblewith each other and withthethe product. Pointsare awardedfor consistencyand suitable design in the spun yarn, evenness in weaving and pleasing and for the general attractivenessOf the drape of fabric, garment On the model. There are also time awardedfor speed, and SortingThe Fleece points lost if üle garmentispoinG not completedin the allotted time. The varietyof garmentswhichit is possible to Froducein such minirnaltime is arnazing.In recent competitions, teams have made ladies' jackets and tops, men's and even skirts. Since the sheep are Lßuallywhite black sheep have been used) any colour is (althoughgrey and usuallyput into the warp.At the last Millarville Fair one tearn four coloursof KoolAid before they started dyed the wool in Last July, at the World Sheep and spinning! Sheep Creek Weavers and Edmonton Wool Congress, die Northlands hosted a Sheep to Garment which attracted teams from both British Columbia and Alberta. experience for everyone involved, withIt was an exciting well as competition.There were seven good fellowship as wonderfulgarrnenLS made during that afternoon, all fashioned by skilled craftsmen, who enjoyed sharing their craft with each other and with the crowds of spectators. Sheep to Garment Competitionshave an old history which without interruptionto the present day. The joyhas continued which comes from making something both beautiful and useful from its most basic materials makes participationin these spirited events so enjoyable.
Weaving
7
September-October 1986/AIberta Craft
Other hand-crafted consumer textile articles such as sweaters,dresses,parkas, blankets and ponchos which are includedin ScheduleI but not in 111,require disclosurelabels whichare permanent,that is, they retain their legibility and remainattachedthroughten cleaningsof the article. Since hand-craftedconsumer textile articles are made in each articleis uniqueand verylimitedquantities—sometimes can be difficult to purchaseprinted disclostre different—it labels which will withstandten cleanings of the article, in suitably-sizedquantiües.In fact, many printers consider an orderfor 1000labels as the smallestorder they will accept. labels for hand-craftedconsumer Thus, obtaining
The Edmonton Weaver's Guild By Jean Connor •me EdrnontonWeaver'sGuild was foundedin 1953to provide an opportunityfor local weaversto meet arylexchangeideas. It has been activefromdiat timeon. There are many well knownweavers among the guild membersand rnmy are teachersin and aroundthe city. The guildmaintainsa of weavingexcellence. General meetings are held in September,Novanber, January,March and May. Membershipis open to everyone with the knowledgeof weavingand/orspinningarylowninga loom.Meetingsare held at the old KingEdwardSchool,8525 101 Street. The Guild holds weaving study groups evay Monday moming and every other Tuesdayevening.SpinningMeets everyTuesdaymoming.Table looms,ownai by the Guild.are used to study new weavingtechniquesand patterns.These workshopsgive membersa chanceto exchangeideas and to seekhelpor advicewithweaving A spinningworkshopis held every Tuesdaymomingat King Edward School.Membersspend the morningQinning the Wooland exchangingideas. or
textilearüclescan be tmreasonablyexpensive.
In addidon.many craftspeopleprefer hand-madelabels to in keeping with the hand-crafted ones as they nature of the articles and allow for greater individual creativity.
In order to find an inexpensiveand relatively simple methodof makingpermanentdisclosurelabels which would withstandten cleanings,we experimentedwith several do-ityourself-type labelling methods and then subjected the resultinglabels to ten washingsor dry cleanings.The labels usedwereKimcarestockfromKimballSystems.The resultsof this experimentation revealed that labels made using an indelible ribbonor India ink were legible after ten washingsor dry cleanings.In addition,labels made using an indeliblestamppad or a permanentink felt were legible afterten washingsbut illegible ten dry cleanings. Consumertextile includedin ScheduleI but not IL An mnual sale and exhibit is held every fall. This which are not care labelled or which are care labelledto providesan opg)rtunityfor mernbersto displayard sell ureir indicatethat they can be washedand/ordry cleanedmust bear products.This year'ssale is to be held on Novemba1. 1986. disclosurelabelswhichcan withstandten washingsor ten dry cleanings.Consumertextile articleswhich are care labelledto at Lister Hall on the Universityof Albertacanvus. Memtrrshipis $25.00.Anyonewishingto join is invited indicate that they should ONLY be washed or ONLY dry cleanedmust disclosurelabels which can withstandten to contact: cleaningsby the recommendedcare The EdmontonWeavds Guild, When using any of the above methods.it is advisableto P.o. Box 4032,Edmonton,AB, test the labelledarticle by washingand/or dry cleaning,as T6E 4S8. appropriate, in order to make certain that the ink from the label does not cause a stainingproblern on the article.
Permanent Labels for HandCrafted Consumer Textiles
Indelible stamp pads (consisting of special cloth pad. and a bottleof opaqueink),India ink. or permanentink felt pens can be purchasedfor tmder S5 at stationerystores. Blank labels cm be purchased from label manufacturersand from some garment manufacturers for approximately $30 for 1000,2 inchby 3 inch labels.
Informative Bulletin Available
For further information,please contact your nearest
a.l%iCorporate Affairs Canada Office, District Officesare locatedin most major cities.
Consumer& CorporateAffairsCanada InformationBulletinNo.3, Mayt80 The purpose of this Bulletin is to assist craftspeople meeting the requirementsof t.}ETextile LabellingAct the Textile Labelling and AdvertisingRegulationsas they pertain to the permanency of the disclostre labels for harui-crafted consumer textile articles.This informationshould be read in conjuction with approprate sections of the Act md Regulations which will, of cotrse, govern. (Editor's note: copies of the Act and Regulationsare availablefrom Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Supply and Sa-vices Canada, Ottawa. Ontario KIA OSN.The InforrnationBulletin No. 1. Guide to the Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulationsis availableat the ACC offices.) Certain hand-craftedconsumertextile articlessuch as hardcrafted place mats, tablecloths,doilies, gloves and swimwer whichare includedin ScheduleIll of the TextileLabellingmd AdvertisingRegulations,require disclosure which are perrnanentonly to the point of sale.
Alberta Craft/September-October1986
8
Note:'Thetwo dosest RegionalTextile Specialists are: Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canadå 260 SL Mary Avenue
WinnipegMB R3C 2B8 Am:
Mr. Ron Moloski
(204)
Consumerand Corporate Affairs Canada 1400—800Burrard Street Vancouver,BC Atm: Mg. CorinneCo&ni Greenbaum (604) 666-5035
You Can't Always Judge A Book By Its Cover But good packaging can always help By Phylis Matousek
you can't alwaysjudge a book by its mver. But a visually appealingcover cm ignite an irnpulseto buy a It's the sarne situatim with any Otha particular product. First, tre potential H.lyer has to be inspired, to experiencea subliminalreaction,you might say, diat makes item. him or her want to tmy that Assuming,of course, that what you are producingis of
high qualityand is appealing,the first htrdle is attractingtre eye of the possiblebuyer. So how, you ask is this &ne?
There are thousandsof ways to packagea product.You can box it, hang it in unusualways, drape it. mountand frame it in an musual manner,create a uruiquestyle that wont be foundanywhereelse. After all the hours and creativeamergy drat has gone into your product,it would be somewhat foolishto scrimpon appropriatedisplay and pukaging. The key word is qualityand that doesnt have to be And while we're at this, don't underestimategood oldfashionedsnob appeal.We're not talking about bargaindays here; you deserve to receive top dollar for yotr creations.
frequauly will sell Cid-of-the-rollsat very reasonable Need a largerbag? A of shQes, sizes andcolorsis
available bodi papr md poly whichcan also irnprinted your narnenogo,again gettingyour narneout to more customas.The CraftsCouncilhas a display of packagingmataials from the MayersPackagingCornpany its fifth floor of McLeodBuilding(Ste. 10136 100th Street). The pukaging company can
a.zstomize your choiceof packagewheth<it's bags &mes. ribbons, bows, hangers—whatevayou may be lookng fcr. Manbers of die Alberta Craft Council re altitled to a discotmtof frorn10 to 15 per cart on the already reasonable
In futtre issues, weT talk about the pssibilities of mrketing yorr product,how to get the word out. how to create effectiveportfolioto showcaseyour work how to choose the right mediurnard get most out of your marketing dollar, the percartage game if you choose a
If you are a weaver,by all meaß obtainsome atüactive commacial outletfor your md other relatedmamas. labels that you can sew into the garment,grantingdiat you have given yourselfand your effortsa name. Even if you haven't,just your name on the label gives the item that PhylisMat0Lsek owned arts Tid craftsshop,TheSea specialtouch.It assures buyer that this is a one-of-a-kind, Urchin,in MorroBay, Califænia,and vecidized in locallyexclusive,hmdwovenitem. In fact, it would be almost irnpossibleto duplicate exedy any hand-made a factordiat give hand-nwleitems their exclusivity.As well. die buyer shouldknowthe fibre contentof a wovenitem and that informationcouldbe inclucE on a separate tag.
ACC Resource Library your name, business address and something about your New Acquisitions technique.These can be suing tags or sticker-typelabels. If you're a potter,by all means developyour own unique style of signing your work or buying quality tags bearing Buyerslove to knowsomethingaboutthe personwho created
By the way. diese ideas QPly to any hmd-crafted 1.
Ankarat, Fall. 1986(Quartaly)
item—badk,paintingson silk.quilts,rugs, carvings.
2.
Basketry
Jeffason.Brim T..
OakvmeGitario,
Cr'*s Mæketing.M
Publishersffimba Pr—s. Seattle, Washington. 1985. (A
o, you've sold your IX0duct.What next? Kæp the Hxyer selling, includingsamples of s happy now with special cartons, colorful lightweight completeguide to Cornission Agalt Agreernarts). cardboardfolding boxes with your name or your business name on it. After all, the more people who see your name, the more potentialcustomersyou'll reach.Even an ordinary 3. Meltæ, Steve,PhotogrqhingYourCr$eork M±ona Seattle. Washington.1986. (A hands-onGuide brownpaper bag can be made into an attractivereceptacle with the a&iitionof a hand-cyawndesign and/oryour name, and tied at the top with a perkycolorfulbow or an ordinary Motivating Volunreers, piece of rope. The surplus paper at the top can even be 4. Moore, Larry F.,(How rewardsof mpaid work can Catre, 1985. Volmteer fringedwith a few scissorslashes.Severalcan be done at people'sneeds). If you use tissue paper to cushion the item, colorcoordinatethe paperwitl the boxes,dut's a nice touch. About wrappingpaper. of course,you can always use a plain solid color, but why not individualizedpaper?Again
o
somethingsimple and udlitarianlike brown wrappingpaper can becomea work of art with a singledesignor an all-over motif. This can be done with rubberstampsor even stamps made from potatoes—onthe order of Iino cuts or woodcuts. Even newsprint.used or unused,can be used in this way.
"Art comes to you proposing frankly to give you nothing but the highest quality to your momentsas they pass." —Walter Peter 9
September-October 1986/AlbertaCraft
Let us cany a lisdng of your event—send us detailswell in
ALBERTA C Calendt•
advance and we'll can-y your
listing to over 1,000 Craftspersons and people
intaested
Cafts,
October—Novembe Edmonton
Calgary October 6—12
Great Westan Alist.s Caft Show Market Mall
October 9—November 23
Exhibition: ne Spirit of Nova Nickle Arts Museum, U of C Campus
October 23—November 3 Exhibition: Three Potters Showing Jim Etzkorn, D'Arcy Margesson, Glenys Marshall Inman
Culpepper Gallery
October 28—November 2 Great Westem Artists Craft Show North Hill Mall
October 31—November 30 Exhibiüon: Weegee—photographsof life in the Big City
Nickle Arts Museum, U of C Campus
November 3 8
Great Westem Artists Craft Show Deerfoot Mall
To October 12
Conternplative Scenes: Ln&capes of
Ozias Leduc Ring House Gallery, U of A
To October IS
Etchings by Etie Richler Prazoff, Silkscreen prints by George Webber and Graphics From Pangnirtung Canadiana Galleries,12222Jasper Ave
To October 26
Narion Nicoll: Art and Influences EdmontonArt Gallery
To October 26
Decades of Landscape Painting in Alberta Nickle Arts Museunt, U of C Campus
December S—January 11, 1987
Exhibition: Judith Lamb—Rooms of the Unknown Woman Nickle Arts Musezun, U of C Campus
Fall 1986 NumismaticsExhibit-
ions—Ancient Coins & Medallions Nickle Arts Museum, U of C Campus
Guild of Knitting ArtisansPresents: Fall Knits '86 Fashion Show Advance ückets: $7.00 availableat
Earthly goods Inc. Fabric Shop,10438 82 Ave and Knit and Purl YamShop, 10412 124 Su-eet
November 15 lla.m. to 4p.m.
Floral Rural: Pastels by Katherine Lehman Muttart Conservatory,
12530 110 Avenue
98th Avenue and 96A Street.
Guild of Knitting ArtisansDisplayand Sale.Admission: $1.50 The Unitarian ChurchofEhnton
To November 2
November 22, 23
October 20—25
November 28—December 21 Exhibition: Spaces and Places—Eight
November 14 7:30 p.m.
To October 31
November 10—16 South Centre
at Jubilee Aditorium
The Unitarian ChurchofEdmonton,
Nickie Arts Museunz, U of C Campus Great Westem Artists Craft Show
10 a.m-4 p.m. Edmonton Weaver's Guild Annual Christmas Sale & Fashion Show Admission $1.00, Info: Karin 4712488 or Barbara 452-3387 Lister Hall, 87 Ave & 116 St parEng
Milton Avery. Painüngs of Canada EdmontonArt Gallery
Studio Ceramics 3, Alberta Clay Comes of Age, 1964-1984 Beaver House Gallery
November I—December 21 Exhibition: ACCs Handspirits
November 1
Great Westem Artists Craft Show Meadowlark Mall
October 25—1 p.mJ9 p.m. October 26—10a.mJS p.m. The Northern Alberta Wood Carvers Association Fourth Annual Show, Compeütion and Sale. $1.00/adulL
Victoria Composite High School, IC Ave Entrance
October 31 (10am-—4pm) November 1 (10—9pm) Ralph Craven Carvings EdmontonArt Gallery
Noon to 9 p.m. The Seven Arts Club of Edmonton6th Annual Chrisunas Alts & Oafts Fair. Proceeds from sales go to Scholarships for Smdents of the Arts Citadel Theatre, Shoctor/LzePavilion.
November 28—December2 & December 4—December 7
Cameo's Christmas Craft Sale Stadium Recreation Centre Contact Eleanor Bercov 484-0736
To October 12
Preview of wor*s to be shown at Intemational
the
in Contemporary Art Fair
Los Angeles, December 4 to 7. WoltjeWUde11 Gallery, 10332
October 31 to November
Art Fair
124 st.
1
Edmonton Art Gallery Admission $2.00 - tickets must be purchased inobtained advance and can be
from the EdmontonArt Gallery.