Fall is my favourite season. Crisp mornings herald the return of sweater weather, while a new school year (or new financial quarter) brings fresh enthusiasm and much-needed routine after a summer of lazy days…. These changes always feel like a renewal of sorts.
This season, change is bittersweet. The decision to wind down the publication of Digits & Threads wasn’t easy for any of us, and I hope you were able to attend our Studio Hours session this week to learn more about the future of D&T and Nine Ten Publications.
Because we’re not done yet! There’s still lots of great D&T content to come, and I hope you’ll stay with us this season as we keep doing what we do best: exploring the fascinating world of fibre and textiles from our uniquely Canadian perspective. We’ve got an incredible fall lineup planned for you—from expert views and nerdy deep dives with some of our favourite long-time contributors to new voices with fascinating, fresh perspectives.
One of the things that I’m most proud of here at D&T is the range of topics we share with our readers and the perspectives our writers bring to the page. We have always sought out the connection between fibre and the issues that matter to all of us—issues like social justice, environmental protection, and mental health. We have never shied away from tough subjects, and this week’s issue is no different.
(Content warning: suicide, gun violence, parent death, medical trauma.)
First up, we welcome Kate Atherley back to our pages with a moving and very personal essay about her ongoing journey through grief and loss. With courage and grace, Kate explores the ways our creativity and maker’s practice are woven together with our lived experiences, and how working with fibre can help us begin to heal.
Then, long-time D&T contributor Leanne Prain reviews Ian Daffern’s heartbreaking new documentary, A Bullet Pulling Thread, which weaves together the life stories of Barry Shantz, killed by police during a mental health check, and his sister, Marilyn Farquhar, whose quilts became a medium of expression for both her grief and her quest for justice from the legal system that failed her brother.
While we’ve covered some heavy subjects this week, I’d like to invite readers to follow the common thread between them—the role of fibre and textile-based creative work as a powerful force for change, for justice, and for healing.
As we move through the season, let this be a source of hope.
Photo by Gary Meulemans on Unsplash
