[Bcma-l] Media release from the Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives

bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:04:15 -0700


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--------------040702000606070302050307
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives, Duncan, BC
For Immediate Release July 14, 2008
 
Knitting Together Cowichan Communities & Cultures
 
The Museum's new summer exhibit, Knitting Together Cowichan Communities 
& Cultures, takes a look at the unique history of the Cowichan sweater, 
a symbol of our West Coast identity.  Many stories about it have 
appeared in the media for nearly nine decades -- how has this garment 
managed to stay newsworthy for so long?  Recently, it was proposed that 
the Cowichan sweater become part of the official uniform for the 2010 
Winter Olympics.  The sweaters have a long history of being commissioned 
for visiting dignitaries and celebrities and they have been shipped all 
over the world. It has become a truly recognizable symbol of British 
Columbia.
 
Knitting Together Cowichan Communities & Cultures examines how Cowichan 
knitting was the result of the cultural contact that took place between 
the indigenous people of the Cowichan Valley and early settlers, and 
tells the story of a fusion of textile techniques that led to the 
creation of this iconic sweater.
 
Join us at the Museum for the following events that complement the 
Knitting Together exhibit:
 

    * On the third Wednesday of each month during the summer, join
      museum staff between 1 p.m. ~ 3 p.m., for a Walk with the Curator;
      approximately every half hour, tour the exhibit with the curator
      to learn more about the fascinating history of the Cowichan
      sweater.  Also available is our Weave on Wednesdays program which
      introduces visitors to different types of looms.  Drop in between
      1 and 3 to try your hand at weaving on the looms that are set up
      in the Museum Meeting Room; 
    * Spinning a Yarn on Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m. ~ 2 p.m., offers a
      really fun opportunity for children (and adults!) to learn about
      wool processing -- right from cleaning raw fleece to spinning wool
      and then creating a craft.  Special guests will be sharing their
      textile skills and giving demonstrations.  Free, with the cost of
      admission to the museum;
    * On Friday, August 8, Native Nitinaht Lake Artist Kathy Edgar will
      be demonstrating Traditional Cedar Weaving at the Museum from 1
      p.m. ~ 8 p.m.  Kathy is a 3^rd generation basket weaver and
      learned the art of weaving from her mother, Frances Edgar, who
      learned from her mother, Mary Chipps.  She collects all her
      materials, gathering cedar bark in the springtime and swamp grass
      in the summer, and follows the traditional ways of preparing the
      materials.  Demonstration is free with the cost of admission.
    * Cedar Bracelet Workshop with Weaving Artist Stella Johnny on
      Saturday, October 11, 1:00 ~ 4:00. in the Museum Meeting Room. 
      Cost of workshop is $25.00 and payment is required at the time of
      registration, cash or cheques only.  Please register by October 3.

 
It's an exciting summer for Cowichan, with the Spirit of Cowichan 
events, BC 150 Years festivities and the North American Indigenous Games 
(NAIG).  Come out to the Museum and enjoy our own "Spirit of Cowichan".
 
Knitting Together Cowichan Communities & Cultures will be on view until 
October 18, 2008.  Admission: Adults ~ $2.00 and Children under 14 ~ 
free, when accompanied by an adult.  Hours:  Monday ~ Saturday, 10 a.m. 
~ 4:00 p.m.  Note extended hours during the North American Indigenous 
Games:  August 3 ~ 9, 10:00 a.m. ~ 8:00 p.m.  The museum is located in 
the Duncan Train Station, 130 Canada Avenue, Duncan, BC.  Please contact 
Curator Kathryn Gagnon for more information: Tel. 250-746-6612 or Email 
cvmuseum.archives@shaw.ca <mailto:cvmuseum.archives@shaw.ca>.

--------------040702000606070302050307
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA">Cowichan
Valley Museum &amp; Archives, Duncan, BC<o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA">For
Immediate Release July 14, 2008<o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA">Knitting
Together Cowichan Communities &amp; Cultures<o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA">The Museum&#8217;s new
summer exhibit, Knitting Together Cowichan Communities &amp; Cultures,
takes a
look at the unique history of the Cowichan sweater, a symbol of our
West Coast
identity.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Many stories about it have
appeared in the media for nearly nine decades &#8211; how has this garment
managed to
stay newsworthy for so long? <span style="">&nbsp;</span>Recently,
it was proposed that the Cowichan sweater become part of the official
uniform
for the 2010 Winter Olympics.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>The
sweaters have a long history of being commissioned for visiting
dignitaries and
celebrities and they have been shipped all over the world. It has
become a
truly recognizable symbol of British Columbia.<o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA">Knitting Together
Cowichan Communities &amp; Cultures examines how Cowichan knitting was
the
result of the cultural contact that took place between the indigenous
people of
the Cowichan Valley and early settlers, and tells the story of a fusion
of textile
techniques that led to the creation of this iconic sweater.<o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA">Join us at the
Museum for the following events that complement the Knitting Together
exhibit:<o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
  <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"
 lang="EN-CA">On the third Wednesday of each month during the summer,
join museum staff between 1 p.m. ~ 3 p.m., for a Walk with the Curator;
approximately every half hour, tour the exhibit with the curator to
learn more about the fascinating history of the Cowichan sweater.<span
 style="">&nbsp; </span>Also available is our Weave on Wednesdays program
which introduces visitors to different types of looms.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Drop
in between 1 and 3 to try your hand at weaving on the looms that are
set up in the Museum Meeting Room;<span style="">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
  <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"
 lang="EN-CA">Spinning a Yarn on Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m. ~ 2 p.m.,
offers a really fun opportunity for children (and adults!) to learn
about wool processing &#8211; right from cleaning raw fleece to spinning wool
and then creating a craft.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Special guests will
be sharing their textile skills and giving demonstrations.<span style="">&nbsp;
    </span>Free, with the cost of admission to the museum;<o:p></o:p></span></li>
  <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"
 lang="EN-CA">On Friday, August 8, Native Nitinaht Lake Artist Kathy
Edgar will be demonstrating Traditional Cedar Weaving at the Museum
from 1 p.m. ~ 8 p.m.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Kathy is a 3<sup>rd</sup>
generation basket weaver and learned the art of weaving from her
mother, Frances Edgar, who learned from her mother, Mary Chipps.<span
 style="">&nbsp; </span>She collects all her materials, gathering cedar
bark in the springtime and swamp grass in the summer, and follows the
traditional ways of preparing the materials.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Demonstration
is free with the cost of admission.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
  <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"
 lang="EN-CA">Cedar Bracelet Workshop with Weaving Artist Stella Johnny
on Saturday, October 11, 1:00 ~ 4:00. in the Museum Meeting Room.<span
 style="">&nbsp; </span>Cost of workshop is $25.00 and payment is required
at the time of registration, cash or cheques only.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Please
register by October 3.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA">It&#8217;s an exciting
summer for Cowichan, with the Spirit of Cowichan events, BC 150 Years
festivities and the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG).<span
 style="">&nbsp; </span>Come out to the Museum and enjoy our own
&#8220;Spirit of Cowichan&#8221;.<o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-CA">Knitting Together
Cowichan Communities &amp; Cultures will be on view until October 18,
2008.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Admission: Adults ~ $2.00 and Children
under 14 ~ free, when accompanied by an adult.<span style="">&nbsp;
</span>Hours:<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Monday ~ Saturday, 10
a.m. ~ 4:00 p.m.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Note extended hours
during the North American Indigenous Games:<span style="">&nbsp;
</span>August 3 ~ 9, 10:00 a.m. ~ 8:00 p.m.<span style="">&nbsp;
</span>The museum is located in the Duncan Train Station, 130 Canada
Avenue,
Duncan, BC.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>Please contact Curator
Kathryn Gagnon for more information: Tel. 250-746-6612 or Email <a
 href="mailto:cvmuseum.archives@shaw.ca"><span
 style="text-decoration: none;">cvmuseum.archives@shaw.ca</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span>
</body>
</html>

--------------040702000606070302050307--