Well - imagine me about 20 years ago -
There I was, a younger, eager and dynamic Fibreworks Kingston student who was in a Weekend Workshop classroom with Toronto's master artist in fibre, Marion Spanjerdt, at the St. Lawrence College - and we were given the Board Room in the Executive Wing on the 12000 floor - just for the weekend and yes, it was AWESOME FUN. I so wish I could go back in time and enjoy some fun with artist friends and with the amazing artists from our past!
We painted pieces that were intended for collage works and the art play with Marion and friends was the very best fun!
There I am, new to the Kingston area and working FT as an HR Manager at Kingston General Hospital. I was one busy lady, raising a son and working through lots of new experiences with my hubby and we left behind 6 grown children in Michigan with their families - becoming grandparents within a few years after coming to Kingston. There I am with the long hair I was growing out as my big sister Patricia had been scheduled for double mastectomies and thought she might lose her hair - so my younger sister, Terrye and I decided to let our hair grow and maybe Patty would need it - she didn't and she was fine and her hair went totally white (like mine these days).
I worked hard to work toward becoming an aspiring Instructor at St. Lawrence College in Kingston. Ultimately, I developed and proposed the 10 credit Textile Design Program that granted diploma certificates to almost 30 students. I worked in the Program for 23 years before the SLC Fibre Arts Programming dissolved before my eyes... to be no longer as a diploma program, as the Arts Funding for Colleges has been cut off by the Province and only short term classes might be added for the programs in Continuing Ed.
So, now I rent a private Artist Studio in the Creativity Studios on the second floor at the TETT. I love to move my own design play forward at the TETT Centre for Creativity and Learning. I have enjoyed really wonderful students in a number of Classes that carry on, bringing fun and playful arts-focused education to our community. and I hope that we will all be back in the classroom together soon.
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| Homage to Hundertwasser, Marion Spanjerdt |
The
ART OF THE HANDMADE STITCH Class I had planned for April 17th,2020 has been
postponed to May 22nd, 2020. and fingers crossed we can get together then. Registered students have been contacted.
My planned DYE DAY, ALL ABOUT PLAY class scheduled for May 3rd, 2020 is still on, but may also be postponed for the second time due to the Covid-19 rules for the City of Kingston re-opening for the TETT Centre.
Fingers crossed we will be together May 3rd, but perhaps not. We have guidelines designed to protect all of our visitors to the TETT as well as the staff and our Instructors. Kingston is doing well, but there are still high spikes across Canada... so we wait!
I have re-booked another DYE DAY date at the TETT Centre for May 31st in the Rehearsal Hall to allow for the full complement of students to be Physical Distancing safely together in one large room.
Stitch up some fabric masks if you have the supplies and be sure to line them with a non-woven, new coffee filter or better yet if you can get ahold of Pellon 830 Non-Woven "Easy Pattern" nonwoven interfacing from Fabricland or elsewhere online, it is a perfect deterrent to any droplets leaving or coming to you! Help protect everyone you come in contact with if you have to be out of the home.
NOTE: I have been advised today, April 13th, that HEPA filter fabrics are NOT appropriate as they may include fibreglass extruded threads...
Be kind to and tolerant of each other, love your family and MAKE ART!
Bethany
