Exhibitions

Calgary Days

December 17, 2018 - February 28, 2019

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design
322 Charlotte Street, Sydney

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design is pleased to introduce Calgary Days, an exhibition of folk art quilts by Hélène Blanchet. The exhibition, which features 14 works, is now on display in the Centre’s Loft.

Nova Scotia textile artist, Hélène Blanchet is a self-taught folk artist who specializes in colourful art quilts made by hand. A natural story-teller, Hélène brings her stories to life in the minutia of detail featured in every piece. The more one looks, the more the story unfolds to reveal delightful scenes of the everyday. The people, the sights, the colours are all captured in her signature folk art style.

Fabric, needle and thread are Hélène’s first love and traditional textiles of all kinds inform her work. She draws inspiration from these traditions, the natural world, and her beloved Nova Scotia. Her unique award-winning quilts have been exhibited nationally and internationally and are represented in several galleries in Nova Scotia.

Calgary Days will be displayed in the Centre’s Loft until February 28, 2019.

Cape Breton’s Military in Wool

November 5 - November 17, 2018

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design
322 Charlotte Street, Sydney

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design is pleased to introduce Cape Breton’s Military in Wool by Leonard Boudreau, an exhibition of tapestries that depict the hat badges of the units, which were raised in whole or in part in Cape Breton.

This exhibition represents Boudreau’s interpretation of the hat badges worn by the men of Cape Breton and beyond, in the service of our nation. Together, the tapestries emblemize the chronology of the infantry battalions from 1871 to the current Cape Breton highlanders.

The opening reception will take place on Thursday, November 8th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Centre’s Loft.

Paradoxical: Art & Craft by Weldon Bona

September 24 - October 20, 2018

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design
322 Charlotte Street, Sydney

Weldon was a local graphic designer, communications specialist, and master gardener but first and foremost, he was an artist.

This exhibition contrasts his whimsical hooked rugs and abstract ink drawings that depict surreal landscapes, people, and creatures.

Call for Exhibition Proposals

No Deadline for Submissions

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design (the Centre) seeks dynamic proposals from artists, collectives and curators at various stages of their careers for its exhibition platforms, including its Loft and ground floor galleries.

The Centre’s mandate is to promote, sell and exhibit professional, contemporary craft and design. While all submissions will be considered, preference will be given to exhibits that include craft or design principles. Artists working in all media are invited to submit proposals. Group exhibitions proposals are accepted.

Selections criteria are informed by the Centre’s mandated objectives. As a contemporary craft and design centre, Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design is interested in works/projects that have cultural, regional or community impact; push boundaries both in method and concept; from a diverse range of perspectives and voices.

The Centre is not currently able to offer CARFAC fees. We support commercial shows, and will write letters of support for funding bodies to support non-commercial shows. Commission taken on commercial shows is 35%.

Gallery Information:

Loft Gallery (third floor)

Approximately 2,000 square feet

Wall Height – 8 feet (to click rail hanging system)
Ground Floor Gallery

Approximately 500 square feet

Wall Height – 12 feet (to click rail hanging system)

Click here for the Exhibition Application Form

Proposals should include:

• CV
• Artist Statement
• Letter describing your artistic practice
• 10 jpeg images (label images with title of the work, date of production, medium, dimensions)
• Completed application

Please send proposals to:

Exhibition Committee

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design

Box 1686, 322 Charlotte Street

Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6T7

Submissions may also be emailed to info@capebretoncraft.com.