Shelly Nicolle-Phillips with Hooked on the Prairies
Happy Summer Fibre Friends! It's been a great start to the summer here in Saskatchewan. We've had so much rain combined with some sun and the prairie is looking very green. I've been traveling across that lovely green prairie speaking at events and teaching workshops. Read on to learn more and also to hear some really exciting news about my Prairie Alphabet Project!
I had the great honour to join some other amazing creative souls in June in Birtle, MB where I spoke about my family and cultural ties to the art of rug hooking and the connection between craft and mindfulness as well as my ties to the natural environment as a source of inspiration. I'll also did some hooking demonstrations and brought along some of my vintage rugs.
Everyone had a chance to participate in some hands on workshops like the indigo dying on led by Tamara Klassen and an opportunity to view so many gorgeous fibre art pieces. Most of all, it was just such a wonderful weekend to spend time with some like minded fibre folks and I thank everyone that attended and especially the organizers for an amazing weekend!
Prairie Perspectives June 7-28, 2024
The Thimble Art Gallery
Thanks so much to Laura at The Thimble Art Gallery for giving me the opportunity to do an exhibit of some mini hooked pieces. The gallery is a micro-art gallery located on the Canadian prairies and Laura does such a fabulous job of the exhibits, profiling the artists and art and having a little fun with it. Thanks also to all the little people for visiting the gallery "in person" and to the gallery staff for all their work. If you want to see what I'm talking about...check out The Thimble Art Gallery on Instagram and Facebook where you can see my exhibit and many others.
This is a picture of my little studio assistant helping to pack up all my art and ship it to the gallery!
This project began in 2021 and took almost two years to come to life. The inspiration came from a desire to learn more about the native prairie or grasslands ecosystem and the plants and animals that depend on it. Each letter represents a species found in this ecosystem.
Part of the reason that I did this project was to learn more about native prairie and through that learning, help others to learn.
I am thrilled to share that my Prairie Alphabet has now been acquired by the Saskatchewan Arts Board as part of the permanent collection. Believe me when I say, I shed a few tears when I found out! I've experienced a range of emotions since then from utter disbelief to excitement and even some sadness when I packed up the collection for the last time. I had the opportunity to share the Alphabet at Bushwakkers Brew Pub in Regina on their local art wall in May of 2023 and then again last fall at the Manitoba Fibre Festival and it was so great to see how people interacted with it.
The Permanent Collection is the largest collection of Saskatchewan visual art in the world and contains work from so many amazing artists. I honestly can not believe that some of my work will live on alongside so many important art works. But it will. And I am thrilled.
Do you want to learn how to hook? Come join me at one of my upcoming introductory workshops this fall. It's fun opportunity to learn the basics of how to hook, hear about the history of rug hooking, and enjoy a few hours with others just like an old fashioned hook-in! Check back often as there are some other workshops in the hopper.
Are you interested in hosting a workshop in your community? Contact me for details!
Keep your eyes on the skies! This picture was taken early the morning that I was heading to Biggar, Saskatchewan. They don't call Saskatchewan the Land of Living Skies for nothing! No matter where you live, the sky is always changing and offers a great opportunity to hone your observation skills. What do you notice? What colour are the clouds? Where are the clouds the largest? What shades of blue to you notice?
Do you want to see what I'm working on? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to see what's on my frame. I post there almost daily. I just finished a series of pieces that were sent off to the Saskatchewan Craft Council Boutique in Saskatoon!
