Duane Hicks
Artists, writers, and anyone else with ideas to contribute to the “What Hooks You Here” community rug-hooking project is encouraged to come to a visual communication workshop, led by Val Larson, tomorrow (April 14) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Fort Frances Museum.
While organizers are eager to get people hooking, they still need to get ideas from residents—specifically their ideas as to what they like so much about Fort Frances and Rainy Lake—and convert those ideas into visual designs.
These then will be made into a rug-hooking piece that will be worked on by members of the community.
The rug-hooking project was thought up by local residents Debbie Ballard and Judy Kielczewski, who got it approved under the Community Arts and Heritage Education Program (CAHEP).
“The thing is, really for it to be a community project, the community needs to participate,” Ballard stressed, adding they are not the only ones eager to get started.
“We went to Rainycrest last week, and they are so keen to participate that the residents are calling, saying, ‘We want to hook! We want to do this!’” she enthused.
Ballard encouraged anyone with ideas, whether they’re writers, artists, or someone with memories to share, to drop by the museum tomorrow evening.
“Take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and go,” said Ballard. “Be a part of the input part of it, not just the hooking part of it.
“It’s not that we couldn’t come up with a design, but to really be representative of how people feel about living here, we need more than just our input,” she explained.
“Even if people have photographs that they want to bring—you don’t have to write anything or draw anything,” Ballard stressed, noting photographs and verbal recollections work just as well.
“Everybody’s got one memory, one story, one little moment, or even one favourite thing,” she remarked. “Like that walk in the morning down by the river—if that’s what it is, that’s what it is.
“There’s no reason we couldn’t include the river walk.”
To offer your ideas, drop by the museum tomorrow evening.
Alternately, writers, artists, or anyone with ideas to contribute to the project, as well as volunteers to help rug-hook, can contact Kielczewski (274-7120) or Ballard (274-3250).
Or contact the museum at 274-7891) or via e-mail at ffmuseum@fort-frances.com
As well, the public can fill out questionnaires that are available at various locations around town, including the front desk at the Fort Frances Times office.
