Sewing Circle at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, in February of 2015. Parts of First Teachers Balance the Universe were sewn here.
Photograph by National Gallery of Canada
Marie has been hosting sewing and printing circles in her studio, community spaces, schools, and institutions as an integral part of her artistic practice. These gatherings are an essential part of the work, not a means to an end. Everyone’s voice is equal in a circle; circles can expand or contract as needed to create space and be inclusive. The panels or prints being made often start with an Indigenous (Seneca) point of view in relation to site, histories, and teachings. Themes then become touchstones for conversation, connection, and cross-cultural knowledge generously exchanged by multi-generational participants. Stories flow when eyes are diverted and hands are busy at work, and new connections are made.
