When one thinks of tapestries, most often it is in some form of historical context. The famous Bayeux Tapestry, for example, was created nearly 1,000 years ago in Medieval France. The art form experienced a revival after the Second World War that lasted well into the 1970s before it faded in the 1990s.
But for Fergus artist Dianne Cruttenden, it never really went away.
“It’s coming back,” she said of her chosen art medium.
Cruttenden, 72, who will be showcasing her work at this year’s Pelham Art Festival, was bitten by the tapestry bug while attending Sheridan College in Oakville in 1970.
“I actually went to Sheridan to study pottery,” she said. “But the one thing (about pottery) is there is minimal colour.”
A fellow student urged her to check out the weaver’s studio. After that visit, Cruttenden was hooked.
“I saw all of these great colours and I haven’t looked back since.”
Cruttenden weaves and dyes her own yarn and has also taken to teaching classes on the art at the Elora and Fergus Centre for the Arts. She and her husband also ran galleries in St. Catharines (Port Dalhousie) and in Niagara-on-the-Lake from 1977 until the late-1990s.
This will also be Cruttenden’s first appearance at the festival, which takes place this weekend, starting Friday at 7 p.m. with the festival’s opening night gala featuring hors d'oeuvres and music from the jazz trio Mundy, Lucas and Casson. It is the 37th year for the festival, which has become something of a Mothers’ Day weekend tradition for art lovers.
“We have 90 artists from all over southern Ontario in person,” said Edie Pett, media liaison for the event. “Quite a few of the artists are new (to the festival) this year.”
The in-person festival takes place in the Accipiter Arena at the Meridian Community Centre.
There is also an online component to the festival that started May 1 and runs through the end of the month that will showcase even more artists.
Looking at ways to improve the event, Pett said the festival is looking to bring in more younger creatives.
“We’re featuring more youth artists this year,” she said. “We have 10 where last year we had two.”
Festival goers will see a variety of mediums on display, including glass, pottery, fine art and “pretty much anything people are interested in,” Pett said.
There will also be a scavenger hunt for kids with art supplies such as crayons and pencil crayons awarded as prizes.
Niagara radio station Giant-FM will be at the festival on Sunday, handing out flowers for Mothers’ Day.
Awards will be given in various categories, as well as for a work that best expresses the theme of this year’s festival— Transformations: 'The art of changing how we see our world.’
Pett said the festival is a volunteer effort that only happens thanks to partners such as the Town of Pelham and various commercial sponsors.
Partial proceeds from the festival will be shared among many community groups including the Pelham Lincoln Public Library and other arts-related cultural programs. Proceeds are also used to help fund scholarships for students at E.L. Crossley Secondary School and Notre Dame College School looking to pursue a post-secondary school education in fine arts.
Tickets for the festival may be purchased online at www.pelhamartfestival.com. Prices are $15 for the Friday night opening event and $7 Saturday and Sunday. Weekend passes are available for $20. Admission is free for children under 12.
Show hours are Friday, 7 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
