Just as she weaves and stitches fabric together, textile artist Karen Cummings is helping bind the Hedley arts community.
Cummings is the organizer behind the Hedley Makers Weekend (June 8 and 9) that invites people on a walking tour to visit local artists and crafters.
“I am just starting to discover our arts community,” said Cummings, who moved to Hedley two years ago from Ontario. “Quite often you will find that a lot of people will be involved in art in a variety of mediums but you may not even know it because it is a practice that feeds their soul. It is almost like a spiritual journey in some ways and they don’t do this for sharing, they do it to make their own life full and complete. So I think weekends like this is very fun because you discover the things people do, whether that is being a writer, an artist or a maker.”
There are 10 locations where makers will open their homes or studios to the public to view their creations and learn more about the artists behind them.
“We have people who make birdhouses, furniture, a silver smith, a fudge maker and many others. It is similar to a studio art tour but we decided to create a makers weekend because there are people that make furniture and do not consider themselves as an artist, even though they are. The word maker really is about being connected to your discipline with your hands,” said Cummings.
A contemporary textile artist herself, Cummings will also be participating. Her work is described as abstract collage in which fabric and fibre are used as her medium. She constructs pieces by using her own manipulated and dyed fabrics. The Okanagan Art Gallery in Osoyoos and Three Winds Gallery in Keremeos are just of a half dozen place you can find her work for sale, including her website kcummings.ca.
The Hedley Makers Weekend runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Maps with the studios that will be open highlighted are available for download on the event Facebook page, hard copies can also be picked up at the Hedley general store and at the museum. Cummings added that a pancake breakfast will be served eat the seniors centre from 8 to 10 a.m. on Sunday.
“It makes for a nice Sunday. Have breakfast, pick up a map and spend an hour or two visiting our community and studios,” said Cummings.
All of the makers donated some of their work to create two gift baskets that will be given away. Those on the tour can fill out a ballot at each location, they then will all be brought together to draw two names.
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