Circle & Square: A Manitoba Festival of Craft kicked off with smart conversation thanks to dynamic and articulate panellists sharing details about their diverse practices and motivation. Many intriguing topics were touched on including: the politics of handmade vs. mass production, the intersections and incongruities between production motivated by need/survival vs creative impulse, discovering and passing on lost and/or disappearing skills, and the significance of public and private collections of craft both for the sake of preserving cultural patrimony and to generate better respect for the technical and creative abilities of handmakers.

But that’s not all… there’s more!

Today:
10am sock doll workshop with Shosana Funk, 12:15pm History of Knitting in Manitoba Lecture by Jennifer Smith, 1:30pm Embroidery workshop with Chandra Mayor, and 3:45pm Making Art in South Africa Lecture by PJ Anderson.

Tomorrow:
Show and sale featuring a fantastic selection of work by diverse local handmakers

Both days:
A very interesting exhibition of intriguing contemporary craft production spanning textiles, glass, metal, and wood

Join us! Find additional information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/346389765433342/

Posting in solidarity, an event coming up at Negative Space, our friends and neighbours just down the street…

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Le Carré Rouge: presentations and discussions on solidarity, the Quebec student strike and the growing popular movement

Le Carré Rouge: présentations et discussions sur la solidarité avec la grève étudiante au Québec et la croissance du mouvement populaire

Close to 200,000 students have been on strike in Quebec for over 100 days, marking the longest student strike in Canadian history, with the momentum growing daily. In tandem with the strike, a growing popular movement has been building, responding to Quebec’s feeble attempts at negotiations and new draconian laws, like Bill 78, restricting the right to protest. Collectively, this popular uprising has seen daily and nightly protests, casseroles, actions, art interventions, economic disruptions, teach-ins, and other creative resistance to the tuition increase, privatization, and the institutional corruption and injustice rampant in Quebec… Fighting to win! On ne lâche pas!

Join us for an informal presentation and facilitated discussion on the student strike, the growing popular movement – in both Quebec and across the country – and ways in which we can build solidarity and assert our collective demands for a different and more just future.

*We will be collecting donations for legal defense at this event, which now totals over 2500 arrests over the last 3 months.

*Cet événement sera présenté en anglais, avec traduction chuchotée de l’anglais au français.

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With short presentations by:

Brian Latour is a student, labour, and international solidarity activist currently studying at the University of Manitoba. Brian currently serves as Vice-President Unit 1 of CUPE local 3909, representing student academic workers and sessional instructors at the University of Manitoba, and will be sharing his thoughts on strategy for the student left in places like Manitoba and smaller-scale mobilizations.

Kandis Friesen is an artist and student on strike. From the nightly casseroles and neighbourhood committees, the nightly downtown demonstrations, police violence and political repression, the arts solidarity campaign and art interventions, picket-line solidarity, and strange mascots (Anarchopanda!), she’ll give a visual presentation of the wide range of actions that are creating (and critiquing) a rampant collective solidarity in Quebec.

Max Silverman is a law student – currently on strike for over 100 days – at UQAM. He is the coordinating administrator of the Legal Defense Fund 2012, and will be joining us via Skype for a legal update.

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Thursday June 21st
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Negative Space
253 Princess Street

Note: Negative Space is not currently fully wheelchair accessible – please contact us for more details at ngtvspc@gmail.com or visit ngtvspc.wordpress.com

Details about Circle & Square: A Manitoba Festival of Craft have arrived!

The first annual Circle & Square: Manitoba Festival of Craft will take place from June 22-24, 2012 at Atomic Centre! Events include: A panel discussion featuring local artists, a craft gallery exhibit, a day filled with workshops and lectures, and a handmade marketplace.

~Friday June 22nd~
Panel Discussion & Show It! Exhibit Opening Party

Join us for a panel discussion on “Working in the Field.” Doors open at 6pm & Panel will be from 7-8:30pm. Stick around afterwards for our Show It! Exhibit opening party to see beautiful handmade art and craft from talented local artisans. Admission by suggested donation of $5.

Our Panel includes:

• Ben Borley
• Matt Jenkins
• Chantel Mierau
• Andee Penner
• Tammy Sutherland

Show It artists include:

• Kami Goertz
• Matt Jenkins
• Chandra Mayor
• Susana Meza
• Nandita Selvanathan
• Jolanta Sokalska
• Melanie Wesley
• Beth Wolchock-Brown

~Saturday June 23rd~
Teach It!

Join us for a day filled with workshops and lectures pertaining to craft. Please RSVP to circleandsquare.mb@gmail.com. Workshop admission is $30 + $10 for supplies. Lecture admission by suggested donation of $5.

10am-12pm – Sock Creature Workshop (Shosana Funk)
In this beginner class Shosana will help you create your very own sock creature! Make a cat, an owl or a creature of your choosing. All supplies included.

12:15-1:15pm – The History of Knitting in Manitoba Lecture (Jennifer Smith)

1:30-3:30pm – Embroidery 101: From Sampler to Smartass (Chandra Mayor)
In this hands-on beginner embroidery class needleworker Chandra Mayor will teach you the basics of embroidery (stitches and materials) with an emphasis on how to employ embroidery in non-traditional ways. All supplies included.

3:45-4:45pm – Making Art in South Africa Lecture (PJ Anderson)

5-7pm – Pastie Making Workshop (Liz Garlicki)
Burlesque performer and handmade artist Liz Garlicki will introduce you to the fun and flirty world of pasties by helping you make your own! All supplies included.

~Sunday June 24th~
Sell It! Handmade Marketplace

Join us from 12-5pm for a craft sale filled with amazing local makers selling their creations and giving demonstrations.