News Release Archive

EDUCATION/CULTURE--YEAR OF NEEDLE ARTS KICK-OFF
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The work of 6 Annapolis Valley stitchers is displayed in the Year
of the Needle Arts kick-off exhibit, The Journey of the Threaded
Needle, in Halifax.

The rich traditions and bright future of needle arts will be
celebrated this year, said Education and Culture Minister Robbie
Harrison, as he officially declared 1997 the Year of Needle Arts
at the recent opening of the exhibit The Journey of the Threaded
Needle at the Mary E. Black Gallery in the Nova Scotia Centre for
Craft and Design, Halifax.

"Needle craft is the magic of one person taking a thread and
using their skills and talent to create a piece that bears their
dedication, ideas and emotions," said Mr. Harrison.

Each year the province of Nova Scotia declares a craft medium as
a theme for the year. The exhibition kicks off 1997 as the Year
of Needle Arts. The focus of the year will be on fine embroidery,
canvas work, smocking, needle lace, machine embroidery and many
other crafts done by use of a needle, including knitting. Over
the year needle arts will be highlighted through exhibitions,
workshops, demonstrations, and other events throughout the
province. A brochure listing the events for the year will be
available in March.

Four Nova Scotian embroidery guilds and a knitting guild have
joined forces to organize events that will highlight the
important past and future of needle arts in Nova Scotia.
Organizers of the Journey of the Threaded Needle were overwhelmed
by the number of entries, and a selection committee chose 151
items for the exhibit, representing the work of 101 stitchers.

The Journey of the Threaded Needle will be on display at the
gallery until March 1. For more information call (902) 424-4062
or fax (902) 424-0670.

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Contact: Catherine MacIsaac  902-424-2795

NOTE TO EDITORS: For the names of stitchers in your area contact
Catherine MacIsaac at 902-424-2795.

trp                      Feb. 13, 10:10 a.m.