Thread and Thrum: Jen Wilson Embroideries

Nymph

"​This​ ​embroidery​ ​work​ ​evolved​ ​from​ ​doodles​ ​on​ ​magazine​ ​pictures," Jen tells us. ​"In​ ​the​ ​90's​ ​I​ ​moved​ ​to​ ​Toronto​ ​and was​ ​heavily​ ​inspired​ ​and​ ​influenced​ ​by​ ​the​ ​graffiti​ ​I​ ​found​ ​there.​ ​ I​ ​photographed​ ​the​ ​graffiti​ ​scene​ ​in downtown​ ​Toronto​ ​for​ ​10+​ ​years​ ​and​ ​my​ ​own​ ​creative​ ​explorations​ ​with​ ​stencils,​ ​stickers​ ​and​ ​flyers​ ​led​ ​to the​ ​face​ ​doodles.​"

In​ ​the​ ​last​ ​5​ ​years,​ ​Jen has​ ​taken​ ​this​ ​work​ ​from​ ​the​ ​streets​ ​into​ ​the​ ​home​ ​by​ ​combining textiles​ ​with​ ​photography​ ​to​ ​create​ ​these​ ​unique​ ​piece that give​ ​traditional​ ​craft​ ​a​ ​modern​ ​twist.​

"I​ ​love​ ​colours​ ​and​ ​patterns,​ ​but​ ​more​ ​than​ ​decoration​ ​there​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​be​ ​meaning​ ​infused​ ​in​ ​the​ ​lines, shapes​ ​and​ ​elements​ ​adorning​ ​these​ ​portraits,​ ​like​ ​secrets​ ​hidden​ ​in​ ​plain​ ​sight," Jen explains.

"Sometimes​ ​I​ ​recognize the​ ​things​ ​from​ ​my​ ​own​ ​life​ ​and​ ​experience​ ​woven​ ​in​ ​but​ ​I​ ​try​ ​to​ ​let​ ​the​ ​lines​ ​and​ ​shapes​ ​of​ ​the​ ​faces become​ ​what​ ​they​ ​will.​ ​ The​ ​slowness​ ​of​ ​the​ ​stitches​ ​and​ ​the​ ​subconscious​ ​imagery triggers​ ​a​ ​deeper memory​ ​of​ ​our​ ​ancient​ ​nature​ ​while​ ​being​ ​inspired​ ​by​ ​graffiti,​ ​pop​ ​art​ ​and​ ​psychedelic​ ​design.

Allyson

Debbie

Jennifer

"This​ ​show​ ​features​ ​local​ ​people​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​some​ ​that​ ​are​ ​internationally​ ​known.​ ​​ ​Locally,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​had​ ​the pleasure​ ​of​ ​adorning​ ​the​ ​faces​ ​of​ ​Katie​ ​Wilhelm,​ ​Debbie​ ​Jamieson,​ ​Felicia​ ​Hunter,​ ​Jennifer​ ​Squires, Rachel​ ​Larivee,​ ​and​ ​Allyson​ ​Proulx​ ​(otherwise​ ​known​ ​as​ ​Lefty​ ​Smudges).​ ​​ ​A​ ​Pair’s​ ​Three,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​a​ ​local folk/pop​ ​band,​ ​is​ ​also​ ​displayed​ ​and​ ​will​ ​be​ ​using​ ​this​ ​work​ ​for​ ​their​ ​new​ ​album​ ​cover!​ ​​ ​I’m​ ​also​ ​hoping Justin​ ​Bieber​ ​uses​ ​my​ ​piece​ ​on​ ​his​ ​next​ ​album​ ​too."

"The​ ​women​ ​in​ ​the​ ​hand​ ​made​ ​white​ ​frames​ ​are​ ​all​ ​heroes​ ​in​ ​my​ ​eyes.​ ​​ ​I​ ​call​ ​this​ ​collection​ ​“American Goddess”​ ​as​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​they​ ​demonstrate​ ​all​ ​the​ ​amazing​ ​traits​ ​and​ ​personalities​ ​of​ ​strong,​ ​intelligent​ ​and caring​ ​women​ ​who​ ​tap​ ​into​ ​the​ ​divine​ ​feminine."​ ​

​The American Goddess series includes portraits of​ ​Amelia​ ​Earhart​ ​(pilot),​ ​Angela​ ​Davis​ ​(activist), Buffy​ ​Sainte-Marie​ ​(musician),​ ​Eleanor​ ​Roosevelt​ ​(socialist),​ ​Ella​ ​Fitzgerald​ ​(singer),​ ​Frida​ ​Khalo (painter),​ ​Georgia​ ​O’Keefe​ ​(painter),​ ​Maya​ ​Angelou​ ​(poet),​ ​and​ ​Rosa​ ​Parks​ ​(activist).

Amelia

Ella

Georgia