Textile Glimpses of Nova Scotia
Last week our Cherished Neighbor Liz and I spent the week in Nova Scotia, someplace both of us have always wanted to go. Most of our time was spent taking in the scenery and eating all the delicious seafood we could find, but along the way I did find notable textiles.
Our first night in Halifax, we came across this statue commemorating Ukrainian immigrants.
Vytaiemo Statue, commemorating Ukrainian immigrants.
Explanation of the items shown.
It was interesting to see how the towel was portrayed in bronze.
The traditional embroidered towel.
I was hoping to find the history of this statue online — who commissioned it? Was there a competition to choose who was awarded the commission? What did the other proposed statues look like? Who sculpted it? Why the choice of a covered head, and why the draping of denim?
But in searching, I got literally only 2 pages of results. When does that ever happen? And most of the links were to just pictures like this one, with no explanation. (And if you decide to go looking yourself, do NOT click on the “halifaxexaminer” link — it keeps replicating itself and you can’t get out of it.)
There is a giant clothespin is in the park in Sheet Harbour. Get it? Sheet Harbour? (Although really in the marine world, sheets are lines instead of sails as you would expect if you are a landlubber.)
Giant clothespin carving.
The textile highlight of this trip was the visitor center in Guysborough. Housed in the old courthouse is a typical display of old tools and crafts, but there were two lovely quilts on the wall too. One of them was applique, showing scenes of local history. I failed to get a picture, but it is here in their online collection.
The other one was new, celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday. I loved how they updated Canada’s famous maple leaf symbol.
“Oh, Canada!” 150th birthday quilt made by Chedabucto Bay Quilters, and on display in Guysborough, NS.
You can read a little about its creation on the Chedabucto Bay Quilters Facebook page.
The textile highlight of the trip was this giant banner, commemorating an abstinence society that was founded in 1830.
Abstinence banner from Guysborough, NS. More information here.
The Guysborough Historical Society has wisely decided to make this great design available in a T-shirt, and it was one of the few souvenirs I bought!
I’m curious why the head is covered on the statue too; too bad there isn’t an explanation to be found!
I will have to do more research! 🙂
That statue to Ukrainian immigrants is so powerful – and speaks particularly to me when my country seems to be so miserable about immigrants right now. I am trying to think of other statues celebrating immigration – the Statue of Liberty, of course, but I can’t think of many others. What a pity more isn’t known about this statue. And I love the texture of that bronze towel.
Yes, and we know how my country is thinking about immigrants as well right now!
I am always on the lookout for sculptures, postage stamps, etc., that celebrate textile creators, I will have to keep a lookout for immigrant statues as well, because you are right, I can’t think of any offhand.
Love the abstinence banner! I would also have purchased the tee.
If you know the name of the park that the Ukrainian statue is in I would just email someone in Halifax – city parks dept, history museum, even public library. That’s pretty much how we roll in Canada. I’m not a Halifax expert, having been only once, but people tend to be very helpful and friendly there and I am sure would love to share. If you email the tourism people at explore AT novascotia.ca I would hope they could direct your inquiry… unless they staff with the students my partner and I encountered on the Waterfront (who couldn’t even direct us to the legislature two blocks away. Good luck. 🙂
That is a great idea! I am of the age where we spent school time writing letters to Chambers of Commerce to learn about tourist attractions, but it never occurred to me! The internet has taken over my brain. 🙂
Maybe the statue is donated? I do agree with Stephanie about mailing – thats what I would do here in Sweden and I have a feeling that things work in similar ways here and there in some cases.
I was thinking that the Ukrainian society probably donated it, but I wondered if they announced a competition first. I will follow up on Stephanie’s suggestion!
Really good to be seen the bedding in the Nova Scotia Museum. I have a quilter friend who would covet the seeming Jewish pillow.
It’s a little off topic, again, but were there any Grenfell hooked rugs visible in this museum?
https://rjohnhowe.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/paula-laverty-on-grenfell-hooked-rugs/
Nova Scotia is not Newfoundland but the latter is close by.
R. John Howe
There were only the two quilts in this particular museum — not even the usual spinning wheel! I did find out in my pre-trip research that Nova Scotia is famous for hooked rugs. I put some historical museums and maritime museums on our possible itinerary, but we didn’t get to any of them! The weather was fabulous and we mostly just walked along nature trails and along the shoreline of the Bay of Fundy. We are hoping to go back often, and I would love to go to L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland too.
That post about the Grenfell rugs is so fascinating! There are just so many areas of textiles I know nothing about, but am happy to learn about.
What fun. Such interesting finds! Wonderful memories forever.
That is true! And also some directions for new research! 🙂
I too wonder why the head of immigrant is covered. Possibly as a humbling effect or appreciation for being allowed to come to a new country. What a great trip !
Hmmm, what will you be abstaining from when you wear your new tee shirt? I assume the original meant abstinence from alcohol.
As always, I will be abstaining from every vice, because I am of a pure and virtuous heart. The tee shirt is just a celebration of my elevated lifestyle. (I would put the emoticon for “smug” right here if only I knew how.)
I think we need a definition of vice about now.
Two rules I grew up with: “Whistling girls and cackling hens always come to bad ends.” “I don’t spit and I don’t chew and I don’t go with boys who do.” That about covers it. 🙂
Explain what’s wrong with whistling girls?
I don’t know. I was not a child to question rules. I have always preferred to follow the rules, get whatever I am supposed to be doing done very quickly, and then go on and do what I want under the radar, while the teacher is busy yelling at the kid who makes a big deal of not following the rules. 🙂 I bet it’s because they would be seen as drawing attention to themselves, though.
Interesting.. my in-laws were recently in Halifax but I’m not sure if they saw the statue. 🙋🐦
It’s tucked away in a little neighborhood park near the train station, so maybe not. We stayed near there and walked around so that is how I came across it.
Well, that’s even more frightening than the Eyes of Texas…
That’s true! I have always felt comforted by the Eyes of Texas being upon me — but the Eyes of Everyone does sound forbidding!
I enjoyed your exchange with Joanna the snarkyquilter! 🙂 I also wondered about TOTAL abstinence.
Nova Scotia has long been on my list of places to visit, as my Scottish ancestors came to this continent through there. It will have to wait a bit longer for me, but I’m glad you got to visit.
I get the feeling Joanna would have been the one in trouble with the teacher while I was quietly sitting and reading or doodling. 🙂
I hope you get to go to Nova Scotia. We were there a week and could easily have stayed two more. Everything we saw was beautiful and all I hoped it would be!
This statue is a five minute walk from my home in downtown Halifax.
I found this summary information about the statue…
http://plepuc.org/en/artwork/vytaieno
and here is the artist…
http://www.dawnmacnutt.com/collections.php
Thank you! I followed your links — looking at Dawn MacNutt’s work, I would never have guessed that that Ukrainian statue was her work! It has really evolved in another direction that I like too!
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