In 2011 the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council challenged its members to visit any museum or heritage site in Nova Scotia, select an artifact, and then reinterpret that artifact through the creation of a new work of craft. Members responded with an astonishing array of works: silk evocative of a coal mine shaft, a ring echoing the hilt of a cutlass, Mi’kmaq quillwork translated into both clay and glass. From the many submissions put forward, a panel of invited jurors selected 23 works to comprise the exhibition. Artists were asked to describe how or why they were inspired, and share their stories as part of the exhibition.

I was lucky to have three pieces accepted in the show.
The inspiration for this Moebius scarf was an ongoing exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia called Red, it references the difficulties faced by potters trying to create a truly red glaze, this is a challenge faced in the textile world as well, although I can’t say I’ve ever felt compelled to throw myself on the fire or into the dyepot for want of the perfect colour.

This knitted Moebius strip has only one edge, and one surface, and is non-orientable, which I enjoy immensely, and is knit with three yarns. The first is handspun in Peru, handdyed by women in a cooperative; it was initially a fuschia colour. The second yarn is millspun, handdyed by the Fleece Artist here in Nova Scotia, it was a fairly deep red. The third is local mohair which I handspun, and dyed a vibrant red. Upon completing the Moebius, I then overdyed the finished scarf to give all three yarns a more harmonious overall red.