Woven & Sewn in Time is a surprising collection of extremely disparate woven and sewn artworks created by artists from Alaska, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunavik, Ontario and Labrador, as well as from Aotearoa in New Zealand.

The exhibition showcases numerous pieces that demonstrate how, over the past decade, traditions of anonymous and utilitarian container-making have given way to innovative contemporary artwork. Unique baskets, tea dolls, lidded boxes and bowls and even a teapot, were created with materials ranging from glass, silver, stone, brass, merino wool and jade to porcupine quills, white spruce roots, whale baleen, caribou antlers and tufting.

The Spirit Wrestler Gallery encouraged the artists to stretch their imaginations and take their traditions in a more contemporary direction by utilizing new materials, colours and designs. Included are unusual flax weavings from Maori artist Christina Hurihia Wirihana; quill baskets by Ojibway artist Lorraine Besito; an intricately carved stone basket with a tiny portrait of a woman weaving on top by Billy Gauthier, Alaskan baleen baskets by James Omnik Sr.; ornate caribou tufting boxes by Athabascan artist Selina (Alexander) De Wilde; and blown glass baskets by Preston Singletary, an Alaskan Tlingit artist.

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Mia Johnson