The Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival chalked up another successful series of workshops and exhibits last week with a healthy pre-registration of 255 students close to last year's record attendance.
"We had over 100 volunteers on site," said a delighted Janet Genders, chair of the organizing committee that spends most of the year preparing for the annual celebration of fibre. The volunteers are a visible indicator of the support the festival receives from the community, Genders said.
Although several classes were cancelled, a few new ones were added. Rug hooking, bowl turning and driftwood furniture creation proved popular enough to add a second class. Many of the participants in the few woodworking courses were women, demonstrating their increase of interest in the craft over previous years.
The art exhibit in the library of Elphinstone Secondary School drew 1,500 visitors who exclaimed over the prize winning entries in 10 categories. The entry that drew the Best in Show from the judges was a dramatic cloak of wearable art entitled Nightflight by Carol Fennell. It also earned the People's Choice Award.
The pulp challenge drew some interesting entries that were displayed in the foyer.
To celebrate the festival's 10th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of sponsor Howe Sound Pulp and Paper (HSPP), creative types were invited to make something from perfectly ordinary pulp or newsprint, wet or dry. Helen MacLachlan's great horned owl painted image dominated the wall, closely followed by Bodhi Drope's proud clan shield. Challenge judge Al Strang of HSPP selected a small purse by Doreen MacLauchlan who had used the material by cutting it into strips, spinning and weaving it.
Quilters, the musical drama by Driftwood Players, opened at the Heritage Playhouse prior to the Festival.
On Thursday evening the festival hosted a gala evening that encouraged many of its participants to attend the show. Quilters packed in full houses almost every day of its run once word got around about the moving rendition based on the stories of America's pioneer women, and the excellent staging of this tightly choreographed production. Susan Beer, who excelled herself in directing the intricate piece of theatre, chose to mount the production at this time after talking with former festival chair Nicky Grafton who recognized the play's appeal to fabric artists.
Though the performances from seven local actors were stellar and the musical accompaniment from an eight-piece live band was terrific, the real star of the show was the gigantic legacy quilt itself, designed and made by the Quilters' Guild. The actors pieced it together during the performance then hung the result in all of its glory, as an artistic reminder of the courage of those who continued to quilt through hardship and loss.
Next year's Fibre Arts Festival dates are already confirmed: Aug. 18 to 21.
