Albion-Heatherington Recreation Centre

NEWS RELEASE

Ottawa

For immediate release:
March 12, 2010

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Unique weaving project wins public art competition

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Ottawa — The main lobby of the Albion-Heatherington Recreation Centre will soon be home to a collaborative art project that promises to have the entire community weaving. Vision Weave, by local artists Thoma Ewen and Gabriel Ewen Phillips, was the winning entry in a City competition that called for public art to enhance Ottawa’s newest recreation centre and foster community engagement.

The mother-and-daughter team are thrilled their project was selected. “We wanted to create a visual expression of inter-cultural and inter-generational creative collaboration,” said Thoma Ewen. “My daughter and I will set up a portable loom in the recreation centre to teach, animate, communicate and direct the weaving of the Vision Weave project with community members of all ages.”

Councillor Diane Deans, chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee, said that the winning art was a perfect project for the new recreation centre. “What better way to weave a community together than with a tapestry that everyone can take part in? It’s one more way that public art can inspire and connect people of all ages, cultures and interests.”

An evolving piece, Vision Weave will incorporate the woven stories from the community. The result will be radiantly colourful banner-like woven hangings.

Thoma Ewen is artistic director of the Moon Rain Centre for Tapestry Arts; Gabriel Ewen Phillips is project co-ordinator. An award-winning tapestry artist, and former instructor at the Ottawa School of Art, Thoma directs community projects in Canada and Europe. An assistant at the Moon Rain Centre for over 12 years, Gabriel has studied at Richard Robinson Fashion Design Academy, Arts Canterbury and Ottawa School of Art.

For more information about the new public art visit ottawa.ca/arts or call 3-1-1.

For more information:
Media contact
613-580-2450

Public inquiries
3-1-1