Local Quilting Artist Chosen for Provincial Exhibit

Local artist Jaynie Himsl has been chosen as one of 35 crafters whose works will be included in an upcoming exhibit by the Saskatchewan Craft Council, ‘Dimensions’.

Every two years Dimensions encourages and rewards excellence in handcrafted work with an open, juried, touring exhibition. This year, more than 200 pieces by 135 artists were submitted earlier this month and jurors selected 35 for Dimensions 2019.

Himsl’s piece ‘Listening’ was the piece chosen for the exhibition, which will run from May 4th to July 6th at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery in Saskatoon.

The various mediums include rug-hooking, felting, quilting, wood-turning, glass-firing, metalwork, and pottery.

The local artist has won exhibition space locally, but she doesn’t mind the term, ‘crafter’ as much as some do.

“It's the age-old question, 'is it art or is it craft?', you know? To me, it doesn't bother me if you call it art or craft, it's what I do, it's what I love to do, call it whatever you want. Call it a quilt, if you want, doesn't bother me,” she said.

Himsl, who has a background in sewing, has truly created her own unique style. The cutting-edge, gifted quilter has been working with the medium for 10 years. She said her inspiration for ‘Listening’ began by admiring the cornices at the tops of the buildings while on a walk one summer. She took photos and reproduced the imagery in fabric.

“Then it was not looking like what I had in mind and I didn't know what I was going to do with this piece,” she explained. “I tend to work intuitively anyway, so I just said, 'sew it the way it's saying to be sewn'. So it's kind of weird looking, which I like about it, and it's kind of weird looking, which I don't like about it.”

Himsl said she is looking forward to attending an awards banquet and reception in Saskatoon at the end of May, noting she most looks forward to meeting the other craft artists.

For more information: https://saskcraftcouncil.org/dimensions2019/