Mended World returns to the walls of Little Current United Church

Mended World

Manitoulin Expositor Wednesday January 19, 2022  by Michael Erskine

Like most creatives, fibre artist Judy Martin usually works in solitude, crafting her award-winning creations in her studio above the Northeast Town municipal offices.  But she describes her time with the Manitoulin Community Circle Project at Little Current United Church as one of the highlights of her career.  This past week, Mended World, one of the four quilts created during that project that has toured the globe as part of Masterworks: Abstract and Geometric (a Studio Art Quilt Associates global exhibition) returned to join its three sister quilts adorning the walls of the Little Current United Church  sanctuary.

"I'm very, very proud.  This project was a high point in my career" she said.  "I am also proud of the exhibition it was put into."  "To work with the people who joined, well, I didn't think I would like it as much but I did.  It seemed to make a difference in all our lives."

There were 144 contributors who worked on the Manitoulin Circle Project, people who would drop in through the day to add a few stitches or just to chat with Ms. Martin or connect with each other.  Sometimes it would be a group of 10 or 12 people at once and then it was as if "they would have a bit of a party" said Ms Martin.  "I was there all day and some people came earlier or later than the main group.  I felt not so much important, as needed.  Necessary."  Stopping after four years proved to be a challenge as even after the project had been completed and the quilts hung, many in the group found themselves casting about for another purpose.  "However, the project had a definite end point of four completed meditation panels " recalled Ms Martin "so we would have had to start something new."

The genesis of the project started with a university course  in liturgical embroidery that Ms Martin was engaged in at the time.  She went on to clarify that 'this is not my 'school project'.   So much of religious themed art is based on realism and "I was getting into more abstract work.'  When her instructor said: "' I looked at your website and your work is already spiritual.   Follow what you already do,'  I became so inspired" recalled Ms. Martin.

She pointed to the circles that feature in the work.  "Circles within squares.  The square means the world and the circle means the living people" she said.  "the meditation panels hold people's thoughts through the week.  When they return to church each Sunday, their thoughts start back where they left off."  

The Manitoulin Circle Project was promoted and nurtured by then Little Current United Church reverend Fay Stevens, who was very supportive of the project "and Julia and Rick McCutcheon, who were also very supportive and helped get the project off the ground" said Ms. Martin.

Following its completion, Mended World was selected to join a traveling exhibition that started out in Houston, Texas and then was exhibited in several locations around the world.  It was an invitational exhibition of one work each by the 29 artists featured in the book Art Quilts International: Abstract and Geometric by Martha Sielman.  The engaging works of art in the show represented a range of styles across the abstract art spectrum and the participating artists came from Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan and across the USA and was displayed in those countries, as well as China.

Upon its return to the Island, Mended World needed a bit of tender, loving care before once again taking up its place of honour on the walls of Little Current United Church.  "After its three-year adventure with the Masterworks: abstract and Geometric exhibition, I completely cleaned and blocked Mended World" shared Ms. Martin.  She also had it professionally photographed again by Nick Dubecki in Sudbury.

At 240 cm in height and 240 cm in width and one centimeter in depth 94 x 94 inches - the work joins its similarly monumental sisters in the church.  The materials used in its construction include re-cycled linen and cotton damask, new silk, light weight cotton, sewing and quilting thread, linen yarn, bamboo batting, backed with linen damask pieced with cotton designed by internationally renowned fashion house Marimekko.  The techniques used in its construction include hand piecing using foundation cloth, machine piecing, hand quilting and hand embroidery/quilting.  

reverse side of Mended World with Marimekko fabric

Once in-person attendance at church resumes (currently there are virtual services because of the pandemic) visitors will once again be able to enjoy the complete collection as they hang on the walls of the sanctuary.