Four public workshops were held at the Cobourg Public Library and at a lovely cafe’ called Meet at 66 King in Cobourg.  Everybody was invited to “show their true colours” by helping to design a fish.  The results were a stunning array of shapes and colours all that will become a part of the “community quilt”.  All very exciting!!!  I was impressed with the large variety of ages that attended.  Families came in and designed a fish unique to their ages and stages.

All  of this activity could not have happened without the help of my friend and colleague Kaye Jackson who helped organize and run the workshops.   Kaye also designed and  sewed  her own fish

The staff of the town of Cobourg get involved and design their own fish.  Many hands create a one of a kind art work.

Annette, one of Cobourg’s own “Crazy Quilters”  came to the workshop and created her own stunningly crazy fish.

When in need call in the troops or rather call in the family!   One aspect of the fish sculpture is that every step is very time consuming.  There is simply no way to speed up the process of working by hand.   I do enjoy that part.  Each fish is hand stitched to the sculpted, then painted frame.  I have already spent many hours methodically stitching to music, to books on tape , to conversation with friends and family.  Nearing the end of the project I realized I needed to “call in the troops” and as family does,  my family came through needle in hand.  My mother, Jacoba Bos,  and my two aunts,  Audrey Van Reenen  and Diane Plug spent over two days stretching and stitching the fish to the frames.  The first night they were joined by my sister Renee Weavers and my beautiful niece Esther Weavers.  By the time everyone left,  close to thirty fish had been completed, ready to hang.  It is a community thing in more ways than one.

Everything has a process.  In this project one step toward completion was the process of fire proofing the fish.  Before each fish was stretched on to a frame I dipped them in an eco friendly solution.  Here the fish hang on the line, drying.  I loved seeing all the colours vibrate against the March sky.  Colour filled the backyard.   I am amazed at how these images bring to mind the early photos of harvested fish drying in preparation for winter storage.   I was also amazed at how an ordinary daily scene such as things hanging on a line can take on such a different character.