Bring buddies to build blanket

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This article was published 06/06/2014 (4134 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Share some covers at the 2014 Prairie Outdoor Exhibition.

Becca Taylor and Bre Little have teamed up to give Winnipeg Folk Festival attendees an opportunity to build a blanket through their project, “Weaving Together.”

The Prairie Outdoor Exhibition is an outdoor art gallery at the Winnipeg Folk Festival showcasing works of art created in many different mediums, such as stage murals, sculptures, and print-making.

“We’re doing an interactive community piece,” Taylor, a 25-year-old Wolseley resident, said.

Taylor and Little, a 30-year-old River Heights resident, are sharing their Aboriginal roots and tradition by building a blanket, and inviting others to join in on the process.

“The idea is to bring the community to make this blanket,” Taylor said.

Taylor and Little said they were inspired to make a blanket for the exhibition because people often bring blankets to Folk Fest.

“People are covering their children with blankets. They’re protection against the elements. We thought it would be a good way to honour that tradition throughout the years,” Taylor said.

When the blanket is complete, Taylor and Little plan to donate it back to Folk Fest.

The women, who are youth workers at the Ndinawe Youth Resource Centre (472 Selkirk Ave.), applied to be a part of the Prairie Outdoor Exhibition because their careers are rooted in community, and they wanted to share that community with people.

“We’re both First Nations, so this is something we wanted to try. We proposed the idea to Folk Fest, and they loved it, so we came on board,” Taylor said.

Taylor and Little will set up their exhibit on July 11 near the stage, although their exact location is not yet determined. Their station is open from July 11 to 13 from noon to 6 p.m.

“We can also enjoy the music while we’re weaving. We’ll talk to people as they come,” Taylor said. “We’ll be weaving to gain interest and we’re going to talk to people about it and encourage them to join in.”

People of all ages are invited to contribute to the blanket, but they will have to take turns, as Taylor said three people can build the blanket at a time. With many people with different tastes adding their own touch to the blanket, Taylor and Little expect the loom to look a little flamboyant.

“We’re going to have a bunch of different yarn styles and textures, and people can pick what they feel is most connected to them or the colour they enjoy the most,” Taylor said. “It’s their choice of expression.”

The 41st annual Folk Fest runs from July 9 to 13 at Birds Hill Provincial Park. However, some exhibits at the Prairie Outdoor Exhibition have their own hours of operation, which are listed at http://winnipegfolkfestival.ca/blog/the-2014-prairie-outdoor-exhibition/

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