Archives for October 2019

Tapestry of Spirit presents the ambitious and inclusive social project to create a cross-stitched representation of the Torah.  This installation features texts from the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy, along with selections for the Scriptures and the Qur’an. It includes the first five books of the Bible, reflecting on the theme of creation.

It is an immersive installation that has been collectively created by almost 1500 volunteers of many faiths, under the artistic leadership of Temma Gentles (Toronto). Visitors will journey through nearly 1000 panels in three languages (Hebrew, Greek and Arabic) including illuminations and embellishments by stitchers from 28 countries who have interpreted these ancient narratives into contemplative, often highly personal expressions.

Volunteer Barbara Feldman’s cross-stitch —After Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and develops a strategy to save Egypt from future starvation, the king honours him with splendid robes (Genesis 41: 49-52).

The Torah stitchers live world wide.  Upon volunteering, they received a package with fabric, thread and chart. It was necessary to follow the directions exactly so that the design was centred and there was adequate fabric for alignment with other panels and for assembly.  The stitcher was able to add small extras to the panel if there was space.  As you can see from the first photo, there are many embellishments to the text.  I picked  two out of hundreds to show you.  The tapestry is full of birds, animals, flowers and designs as you can see in the first photo.

You can read more about The Torah: Stitch by Stitch Project by going to

The Tapestry is currently on display in the Textile Museum Toronto.

It has been open since June but closes on November 17, 2019.

With great regret,  Marie Fenwick, Susan Clinesmith and myself will NOT be visiting  The Toronto Historical Embroidery on Wednesday, October 23, which is next week.

When we made the date in July we were younger!!  Time has moved on.  We are now older than we were back then.  It saddens us all, but undertaking traveling into downtown Toronto is more than we are physically able to undertake at this time.

Of course, we regret it.  Toronto is now a major city with a lot of traffic and a lot of people. The Subway System is geared to younger folk.  Driving is a challenge and from here, going in to Toronto out of rush hour, is problematic.

Remember, it was 37 years ago that the Embroidery was completed and 43 years ago when it was started.

There is always the phone and the internet.  They allow us to communicate without the hazards of being physically somewhere else.

Bless technology.  Our thanks to the young people who have created it.

Thank you readers everywhere,

Ann

The Toronto Historical Embroidery was completed and installed.  That is Marie on the right wearing the white sweater and Sue is centre front.

We celebrated!!  Why not!  After six years of intensive effort and the participation of 140 stitchers.  The Toronto Guild of Stitchery had achieved an incredible feat.  We were rightfully proud of ourselves. And, we were all so young!

And then what?

Most of us remained members of the Toronto Guild, but we basically went back to our normal lives.  Basements got tidied up and the extra chairs and tables went back into storage.  We stopped being part of each others’ daily lives.  A few people moved out of town; many of us went back to work either full or part-time.

We got on with our lives – as happens.

It is now 37 years later.  Marie and I have remained constant friends but we have lost track of most of the others.  Sue sent me her photos and Marie sent me her advertising brochure of the Embroidery   We each have a copy of the video which has given much of the specific information for you.

Recently, Marie, Sue and I met for lunch.  Although time had wrought physical changes, we were still the same people and we were glad to be together again.  Marie is on the left with Sue in the centre.  We had lots to talk about of course.  Marie continues to quilt and Sue has taken it up since she retired.  I continue to stitch but it has become increasingly sporadic.

We plan to meet again at noon on Wednesday, October 23.  We are going to City Hall to see the Embroidery and I hope to get a few more photos of the embroidery in its new location.  I would like to take a video if possible.

Here is how to find the Toronto Historical Embroidery.

On to the ground floor of City Hall, you will find Cafe on the Square. Behind the cafe, there is a corridor and a staircase going down to the lower level.  The Embroidery is located at the bottom of the stairs.  It has its own lighting system and audio presentation which you can turn on.

Visiting is free.  It is in excellent condition as it was well made, well finished and is protected from daylight and dirt.

If you are in Toronto downtown that day and just happen to be there, we would love to include you in our trip down memory lane.

Thank you for following this blog and I hope that you have found this series on the Toronto Historical Embroidery interesting.

Your comments would be most welcome.

The panels, frieze and end bars were all completed.  The frieze is being joined together.  You will be recognising the different figures in the frieze.  For instance, Joe, Luigi and Mario are continuing to build the subway system – followed by the business lady and the hippies.

A long-awaited moment. Let’s see how it might look.  Though still in the den, it looks,—amazing!!  That is Sue on the right; Colleen Darling on the left. She stitched many of the figures including the Highlander in the kilt.

The organisers checked every figure, every detail and when totally satisfied, they started putting it together.  Everything was mounted on plexiglass padded with Fleecy Pellon and covered with factory cotton.

The eighteen panels were mounted in sets of three.  The frieze was divided into two parts. The end panels were another two long and narrow panels.  All ware laced with linen thread.  This was a huge job and needed a new and specialized team led by Georgina Mentis.

Threads and fabrics were packaged and placed inside the frame along with a panel on which every stitcher embroidered her name.  Sue also has a list of who stitched every figure and the threads they used.

It was completely finished after six years of detailed planning and stitching, with eight days to spare!

All the sections were packed separately and transported to City Hall in a van.

The long sections of the frieze and end panels would not fit into the elevator and had to be hand-carried up the stairs. The installation team of seven and some  City Hall employees installed it in the entrance hallway of the Council Chambers on the third floor.

Presentation Day was memorable.  Marie was president and made the speech.  The gift was accepted by the Mayor, Art Egleton.

Marie Fenwick, President of the Toronto Guild of Stitchery presents the Toronto Historical Embroidery to the City of Toronto. March 4, 1984

There is one final and wonderful photo of Sue in front of the Embroidery which is both dramatic and gives everyone an idea of the large size of the Embroidery.

I wish that a photo of the completed Toronto Historical Embroidery could be included here.  But it is 24 feet long and 6 feet high and that is big.  The city provided a three-section folder which shows the entire embroidery and includes some information.  It is no longer available after all this time.

I have been trying to include a total photo in two sections but this technology will not cooperate.

And then what happened?   The final chapter will be next.