Collaborative exhibit tries to reclaim household skills as forms of art
Written by Andrew T

Makin’ Mamma Proud/Fretwork (MMP/F) is a collaborative show featuring the work of your four favorite gals. But don’t take my word for it. Actually, those aren’t my words, they are the words of the four favourite gals in question: Danica Evering, Bailey Govier, Charlotte Hodgson and Victoria Michalowsky.

From Monday Feb. 8 until Friday Feb. 12, the Zavitz gallery on campus will be host to the wonderful group exhibition that aims to bring fretwork forward into the new generation. But you probably want to know more than that.

Victoria Michalowsky has been drawing ever since she was a little girl, sewing for a long time, started embroidery in the summer, and picked up knitting this past fall. It is the second-to-last skill that is being highlighted in MMP/F. Victoria’s series of handkerchiefs and napkins embroidered with slogans and lyrics from pop culture are both dainty and bold, as if some of the heart’s greatest emotions could be used to house your snot. I’d definitely recommend picking those up.

Charlotte Hodgson’s pieces explore everything from the imagery of quilting to home photographs, framing, and household knickknacks. While I think that ‘tchotchkes’ is a racist term, Hodgson’s depictions of home artifacts brings the quaint in conflict with questions of what can be considered an art form; is it craft, technique, or production? Charlotte’s been doing art since kindergarten.

The needlepoints are the work of Bailey Govier, who says she inherited her craftiness from her mom. From a practice that usually elicits framed images of ‘Home is Where the Heart Is’ or ‘God Bless This Kitchen,’ Bailey has created warm inviting messages like the chorus to Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” or (my personal favourite) ‘Kill Whitey,’ underscored by a row of colourful crayons. This is probably one of the craftiest and most humourous mash-ups of class and crass I’ve seen in a long time.

And if you’ve had the time to stop by the gallery between 12:30 and 2:30 before today, you’ll have seen Danica Evering offering to alter and improve upon your worn out clothing. Coupled with a clothing-focused video, this work is an opportunity for audiences to forever live with a piece of art, unless they give away their clothes. Depending on your definition of art, Danica’s been sewing since she was six and once made a three-piece dress that she promptly wore to school.

All of the works emphasize a skill that these women are trying to reclaim as an art form. These trades are arguably very in vogue right now, but otherwise lost to much of our generation. However, if the post-industrial age is nigh, the know-how of these aspiring, young artistic geniuses will be in demand for our very survival.

The exhibit ends on Friday, but there is a gala reception in the Zavitz art space from 7-10pm tonight. This opening/closing reception is an excellent place to fanagle a handkerchief, needlepoint, quilt patch, or last minute clothing alteration before the works are (according to the artists) burned, hung up in their homes, given away as gifts, or submitted into further shows. It’s a fancy affair, so please dress accordingly. Perhaps what you wore to your mom’s birthday party?