Art Commissioned to Help Celebrate Saskatchewan's Legislative Building 100th Anniversary!

Miranda Jones with her installation at the legislature

          
























To help celebrate the 100th anniversay of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, Saskatoon artist Miranda Jones was one of eight artists that were commissioned to create artwork that would explore the history and signficance of the Legislative Building.  Two components of this project was community engagement and legacy artwork.  During Jones' two week residency program at the legislature in Regina and through her creative envolvement with children in both Saskatoon and Regina, Miranda's large metal installation was a collaboration between herself and the children.   

Jones traced the beautiful silhouette's on her metal screen directly from the children's drawings, which in turn were a direct response to her wonderful gift for story telling, artistic vision and practice.

Miranda and Friends

The unveiling of Miranda Jone's piece and that of the other seven participants took place on December 5, 2012.  Each of the eight installations is currently displayed in a designated alcove in the rotunda area of the Legislative Building.  It is my hope that if you are in Regina, you will take the time to view each of these wonderful pieces of art!

How to Contribute to the Unity Quilt

  When I have asked people if they would be willing to participate and contribute hand written 'truths' for the Unity Quilt, the most commonly asked question is, "What do you mean by my truth?" Others respond that they either don't have a truth or positive affirmation that they tell themselves to help them reach their highest potential, or are not creative enough to write one. Clearly, these responses suggest that I need to clarify what I mean by my request.

So for today's blog, I have decided to provide a few varied examples that  have been offered. Each contribution has been stuffed with batting and secured with metallic thread on transparent 13" x 13" tulle blocks.  

These blocks will eventually be sewn together as they are added to the Unity Quilt.  Participants have not only written their own personal mantras or truths but many have written already existing spiritual or philosphical sayings that offer them inspiration, some participating artists have chosen to submit pieces within their own disciplines. I have attempted to chose blocks that represent a little from each of those possibilities.

In addition to the contributions provided from the public, I have also chosen to include selected hand written quotes from a wide variety of scriptures, philosophers, religious sages and spiritual authors alike.  The act of stitching these truths together onto the quilt, is my attempt to symbolically exemplify our oneness with all that is.