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"
M A R Y , R E M E M B E R
W H E N Y O U S A I D
Y O U N E V E R W A N T E D
T O B E I N C H A R G E
O F A N Y T H I N G
A G A I N? "
Betty Manuel
"
S E E I N G T H E A R T
M A D E M Y H E A R T S I N G "
Judy Morningstar
" (T H E) D E D I C A T I O N
O F Y O U R T E A M W A S
I N E V I D E N C E
E V E R Y W H E R E "
Carol Galloway
" IT W A S W O N D E R F
U L
T O S E E S O M A N Y
F R I E N D S W E ' V E M E T
F R O M A C R O S S C A N A D A
- A N D T H E Y W E R E A L L
H A V I N G S U C H A
G O O D T I M E !"
Cathy Miller
"
MY T E A C H E R S
W E R E E X C E L L E N T ,
F U N A N D F U N N Y
A N D I N S P I R A T I O N A L "
Catherine Rostron
"
L I T T L E D I D I K N O W
T H A T I W A S A B O U T T O
E N T E R A W O R L D O F A R T
T H A T W O U L D G R A S P
E V E R Y C O R N E R O F
M Y A T T E N T I O N "
Patricia L. Cardinal
"
I K N O W T H A T T H E
R E S P E C T A N D
F R I E N D S H I P S F O R G E D
H E R E W I L L L A S T
F O R E V E R "
Judy Villett
" I ' M S U R E T H E R E
W E R E W O B B L I E S I N
T H E B A C K G R O U N D M A R Y
Y E T Y O U S E E M E D T O
F L O A T O N I N Y O U R
A U R A O F C E N T R E D
C A L M N E S S "
Valerie Hearder
" I W A S T O U C H E D
B Y T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y
T O C O N N E C T W I T H
S O M A N Y Q U I L T E R S
F R O M A L L O V E R
C A N A D A "
Wendy Lewington-Coulter
"
T H E S H O W S A L L
O V E R E D M O N T O N
W E R E A F E A S T F O R
T H E E Y E S A N D A
C E L E B R A T I O N O F
Q U I L T I N G "
Penny Berens
" Y O U ' R E N O T G O I
N G
T O D O T H I S A G A I N
A R E Y O U ? "
Gary Holdgrafer
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What drew me to an experience that would prove to be so exhausting?
First of all, there was the opportunity to work with a group of competent
women who I like and respect. I would never have taken on the responsibility
of co-chairing a national conference if had not been confident in the
skill and dedication of these women.
At our recent wrap up meeting I was moved to tears as I tried to express
my gratitude to the Planning Committee. They worked tirelessly to produce
the conference. They assumed their responsibilities with grace, asked
for help when needed, met deadlines even when they were stretched to
do so. They carried on in spite of births, deaths, illnesses, surgeries,
job losses and career changes. From this experience deep bonds of respect
and friendship were forged..
I have been thinking about my favourite parts of organizing the conference
and seeing it through. I loved the process of developing a vision for
the conference and helping to birth it. I value the friendships I have
made along the way. I have learned more than I thought I would and I
am grateful for that.
As I sat in the Resource Room at the Edmonton Art Gallery filling the
last volunteer slot before the National Juried Exhibition closed, I
generated a list of my favourite parts of being involved in Quilt Canada.
Here is my list in no particular order:
- Working with the Planning Committee - good friends, good work.
- Having dinner with my friends Valerie Hearder, Wendy Lewington-Coulter
and Penny Berens. It was wonderful to be face to face instead of having
e-mail conversations.
- The feeling of my heart opening as I viewed the quilts in the Edmonton
Art Gallery for the first time..
- Working with Marna Bunnell who is the Education Curator at the EAG.
I learned so much from her and I made a new friend too.
- Having brandy late in the evenings during the conference with my
dear friends Wendy Huntington and Janet Slater. Each night we met and
hung out for a while. Sometimes others joined us - Margie Davidson,
Dale MacEwan, Pat Crucil and Betty Manuel and that was great too.
- Seeing all the quilt exhibitions.
- Hosting Her Honour, Lois Hole, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, at
the gala opening of the quilt exhibition at the Edmonton Art Gallery.
- Taking time during the conference to have lunch with Gary in celebration
of our 30th wedding anniversary.
- Seeing so many friends if only briefly.
- Chatting with David Walker.
- Giving Sheila Wintle and her enormous suitcase a lift to her classroom.
- The atmosphere of the Market Mall and accompanying quilt exhibits.
- Having Kathy Logan de Chavez laugh at me when I fumed about this and
that.
- Betty Manuel's kindness in loaning me her copy of Judy Chicago's
autobiography.
- Linking the Artist in Residence project to the Edmonton literacy
program.
- All the help and support from the Department of Human Ecology.
- Seeing Jodi-Marie Horne present the Endowment Quilt to the Edmonton
and District Quilt Guild.
- Receiving a thank you letter from a woman who thought she was attending
a craft show, but discovered the wonderful display of quilts instead.
- The laughter and good cheer of the Yellowknife Gang along with members
of their Edmonton Chapter.
- The festive mood of the folks waiting to board the "Go Go Bus" and
their generosity when the schedule did not work as planned.
There were many moments of graciousness and generosity of spirit during
the conference. From Carol Cooney quietly looking after a person with
a medical need at the NJS opening, to Wanda Cracknell bringing lunch
for David Walker so he wouldn't have to eat another dreaded hoagie...
there were many instances of kindness.
I am proud of the work we did, but it is the personal connections, the
caring and the laughter that will remain with me. I am glad to be returning
to my "normal" life. I won't be volunteering to chair another conference
any time soon.
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