Textiles from the Canadian Front
J. Penney Burton
The craft of storytelling has all but disappeared from the Western cultural context and there remain few peoples whose oral traditions are still a prominent part of their everyday lives and culture. There are, however, many who believe that it is part of the artist's role in society to comment on and share their stories and heritage in an effort to fill this void. This paper will explore the textual or narrative content in the work of two prominent and emerging Canadian fiber artists: Anna Torma from Baie Vert, New Brunswick and Candice Tarnowski from Calgary, Alberta. The work of Anna Torma speaks of her close family relationships as she often incorporates ideas and drawings created by her children into her detailed and narrative quilt pieces. This intergenerational collaboration results in unique and engaging work. Torma's work also references her experiences as a Hungarian immigrant, now living and working in Canada. Candice Tarnowski creates tiny imaginary beings and worlds which speak of feelings of alienation and evoke longing for a social togetherness that is seemingly impossible in our world today. She is known for combining materials from her immediate environment with objects and materials that are imbued with her own personal meaning. Tarnowski is currently working towards her MFA at Concordia University. The voices of these women will be evident in this presentation, with images of their work being interwoven with their comments collected from personal interviews with the author.