Parkland

Details

Description

Parkland was hand-woven over an eight-month period using a wool yarn specifically designed for contemporary tapestry weavers. Two assistants and two art students assisted the artist. The line drawing, called a cartoon, is blown up to full size and placed behind the warp threads to guide the weaver.

Notice the three scenes: a spiraling, windswept sky through which kites fly; a cascade of parkland flowers and leaf shapes falling through a shaft of light; and a patchwork of land and water images that reflect the central Alberta environment. The canoe and the kites remind us that people are part of this landscape.

The cross motif in the border reminds us that Red Deer was once an important crossing point on the Red Deer River. The upper motif reminds us of the boreal forest and the lower motif reminds us of grassland.
Although this piece is somewhat abstract, recognizable images are still present. The spirit of the work comes to life when viewers attach their own meanings to the images, symbols and motifs.