Historical Yarmouth Crafts on Exhibit in Halifax

A new exhibit from the Yarmouth Crafts Guild called Ocean Blue opens on Sept. 20 at the Mary E. Black Gallery in Halifax. The collection pays homage to the long-standing relationship between the people of the Yarmouth area and the sea.

The Ocean Blue collection reflects the historical association of the region's trades and businesses with the works of the local craft community.

"Our history includes shipbuilding, forges and cotton mills, where canvas was woven for sails," says Gwen-Hewey Parsons, past president of the Yarmouth Crafts Guild. "The craft-work of weaving, metal and woodworking directly reflect these long- standing skills that are still being practised today."

The exhibit highlights samples of woodworking, carving, pottery, quilting, rug hooking, forged iron work, model shipbuilding and knitting.

The Yarmouth Crafts Guild was formed in 1979 and currently has about 50 members, whose work reflects many disciplines, including weaving, stained glass, crochet, knitting and quilting.

The exhibit runs from Sept. 20 to Oct. 26 at the Mary E. Black Gallery in the Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design, 1683 Barrington St., Halifax. The gallery is open Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.