A Mending Map
Inspired by the wisdom of our grandmothers and of my Métis ancestors, this tapestry pays homage to them. I have such admiration for the patience and humility behind their acts of repair and care, and their respect for resources. Even small bits of materials were valued and saved to be reused, which added to the rich patina and sense of soul imbued in their handcrafted objects.
This hand-stitched piece also speaks to the importance of mending. Everyday objects regularly need mending, yet contemporary society is more inclined to disposability and discard. Few people have the patience and skills to mend and repair, which has led to burgeoning landfills and environmental crises.
Our relationships need regular care and mending too; our personal relationships, our community and social relationships, and our relationships to the land and to nature. Damage occurs and must be repaired; reconciliation must take place and trust must be established or rebuilt. How can we find our way through to new relationships of respect and of connection? In looking to the old ways as maps, we can uncover remnants of wisdom still available to us. By tuning into intuitive ways of knowing, we can bridge the gaps left by what has been lost. Piecing it all together we can create a sort of patchwork map, incomplete and imperfect, yet real and comforting.
repurposed wool, cotton, thread, leather, beads
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