Gather in the County

Annual market showcases the textile arts

Over 80 vendors, exhibitors, guilds and makers gathered at the Crystal Palace in Picton for the second annual Gather in the County exhibition of the textile arts. Organized by Bay Woodyard and Bear Epp, the event is dedicated to promoting the textile arts and is the only one of its kind in Ontario. Both Ms. Epp and Ms. Woodyard are passionate about their craft and have a strong desire to share and promote the work of other makers and artisans. They conceived the idea of a textile show about two years ago when they were both members of the Society of Stitchers, a group organized by the Department of Illumination. Ms. Woodyard makes naturally dyed yarn using dyes obtained from plants grown at her Honey Pie Hives and Herbals location, and Ms. Epp is a textile artist with a focus on rug hooking. Last year, they organized the inaugural Gather in the County, inviting dozens of artists, makers and producers. “It was a wonderful, welcoming, happy and joyous event,” said Ms. Woodyard. Buoyed by the success of the first Gather, they set out to make this year’s event bigger and better, with over 80 vendors, exhibitors and guilds taking part. “I’m passionate about the textile arts and also promoting other artists and makers. It brings me great joy to showcase other people’s work,” said Ms. Epp. “Anything that’s made of fibre, we’ve got it here. This is the only stand-alone market in Ontario that we know of.”

This year’s exhibit included the work of three textile artists. Amanda McCavour created an installation piece called Ode to a Prairie comprising of gauze panels suspended from the ceiling of the Crystal Palace depicting a field of flowers. Katrina Tompkins had a display of colourful hand-tufted rugs mounted on the doors of the Bluebird Building, and artists Deanne Lehtinen and Christina Zeidler— who exhibit under the name Look-i- Like—had an outdoor installation created from upcycled plastic waste. Each of the artists was paid for their appearance, with Ms. McCavour being sponsored by SHED Chetwyn Farms, Ms. Tompkins sponsored by KOKITO, and Look-i-Like being sponsored by Books & Company. Products and exhibits in the show included fine linens, mended and salvaged clothing, weaving and spinning supplies, and fine art made of fibre. One interesting exhibit was called Bugs in Rugs. It’s a collection of 45 rugs made by rug hookers from around the world, all depicting colourful insects. The exhibit was curated by Yvonne Iten-Scott, and is on a three-year tour.

Kelly O’Donnell represented the non-profit support group Ontario Fibreshed, which has a mandate to help all producers and makers who deal with natural fibres and natural dyes. They provide a website where members can post a link to their business or operation, and they provide education and social media support. “The idea behind Fibreshed is a circular economy,” she said. “It’s about regenerative agriculture called soil to soil, so whatever product you have, it comes from the soil—for example growing flax—and eventually that garment you make will break down in the soil, so it’s a full circle. That is the ethos of Fibreshed.”

The County was well represented in the show, with a number of producers and makers, as well as guilds and groups including the PEC Quilters Guild, the Society of Stitchers, County Spinners and the South County Stitchers.