Growth Rings
A collaborative repurposed textile work for Vancity's Chieftain Branch at Squamish Savings, Squamish, BC.
Akin to the growth rings of a tree or a shell that are a record their changing environment, the concentric layers of this work are a record of the evolving community that calls Squamish home.
Created from salvaged climbing rope, Growth Rings is made up of hundreds of multi-strand braids woven by Squamish residents over the course of ten workshops during January and February of 2018. Three of these included guest storytellers and musicians, Tsawaysia Spukwus (Alice Guss) Squamish Nation, Lucie Barnett, and Eric Andersen.
This braided work weaves together the history of Squamish with its diverse community. The imagery of the Western Red Cedar speaks to the ecology of the place, the logging and forestry history and the Indigenous people’s history in Squamish and their use of cedar as a braiding material.
Created from salvaged climbing rope, Growth Rings is made up of hundreds of multi-strand braids woven by Squamish residents over the course of ten workshops during January and February of 2018. Three of these included guest storytellers and musicians, Tsawaysia Spukwus (Alice Guss) Squamish Nation, Lucie Barnett, and Eric Andersen.
This braided work weaves together the history of Squamish with its diverse community. The imagery of the Western Red Cedar speaks to the ecology of the place, the logging and forestry history and the Indigenous people’s history in Squamish and their use of cedar as a braiding material.
See The Squamish Chief newspaper article about the project here.
Appreciation & Recognition
This project was created with the help of many hands and made successful thanks to the support of this community!
My genuine gratitude goes out to:
Special Guests
Tsawaysia Spukwus (Alice Guss)
Lucie Barnett
Eric Andersen
Community Makers
Elly, Madisen, Caitlin, Michi, Donna, Astrid, Karen, Eric, Jennifer, Moira, Brighton, Terra, Lucie, Sarah H., Elizabeth, Chosen, Alice, Lauren, Adelaide, Brooke, Shannon, Negar, Sarah M., Marjorie, Charlotte, Kathleen, Jason, Helena, Olivia, Sara, Daniel, M.V., Kyla, Riley, Chris, Dominique, Darren, Kiana, Yasamin, Pam, Rika, Caelin, Cameron, Ryan, and many others who participated at drop-in sessions.
Community Groups Who Hosted Braiding Events (and the individuals who made it happen)
Quest University (Elly and Madisen)
Hotspot Community Resource Centre (Pam and Hasrat)
Squamish Youth Resource Centre (Caitlin, Alex C., and Alex A.)
Don Ross Middle School
Ground Up Climbing Centre (Rick)
55 Activity Centre (Christine and Shannon)
Rope Donations
Climb On Squamish for both their help with rope collection and a final bag donation!
Elora, Sandra, Gayle, Maria, Shannon, Evan, Evgeny, and many others who donated anonymously.
Community Support
Squamish Public Library
Squamish Arts Council
Squamish Historical Society
Squamish Savings
Additional Support
Tanya, Darren, Nicole, Anne, Cameron, Alley and Butch, David, Chris, Dominique, Naomi, Amber, Phil, and Brooke.
My genuine gratitude goes out to:
Special Guests
Tsawaysia Spukwus (Alice Guss)
Lucie Barnett
Eric Andersen
Community Makers
Elly, Madisen, Caitlin, Michi, Donna, Astrid, Karen, Eric, Jennifer, Moira, Brighton, Terra, Lucie, Sarah H., Elizabeth, Chosen, Alice, Lauren, Adelaide, Brooke, Shannon, Negar, Sarah M., Marjorie, Charlotte, Kathleen, Jason, Helena, Olivia, Sara, Daniel, M.V., Kyla, Riley, Chris, Dominique, Darren, Kiana, Yasamin, Pam, Rika, Caelin, Cameron, Ryan, and many others who participated at drop-in sessions.
Community Groups Who Hosted Braiding Events (and the individuals who made it happen)
Quest University (Elly and Madisen)
Hotspot Community Resource Centre (Pam and Hasrat)
Squamish Youth Resource Centre (Caitlin, Alex C., and Alex A.)
Don Ross Middle School
Ground Up Climbing Centre (Rick)
55 Activity Centre (Christine and Shannon)
Rope Donations
Climb On Squamish for both their help with rope collection and a final bag donation!
Elora, Sandra, Gayle, Maria, Shannon, Evan, Evgeny, and many others who donated anonymously.
Community Support
Squamish Public Library
Squamish Arts Council
Squamish Historical Society
Squamish Savings
Additional Support
Tanya, Darren, Nicole, Anne, Cameron, Alley and Butch, David, Chris, Dominique, Naomi, Amber, Phil, and Brooke.
