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The World of Threads Festival is a not-for-profit initiative with charitable status. Organized by a volunteer steering committee, the festival encompasses a variety of exhibitions displayed throughout Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
To foster diverse forms of fibre arts, World of Threads pARTners with Oakville education, business and arts enterprises.
The Festival has evolved through changes in organizational structure and availability of sites for exhibitions and events. Consistent throughout has been the dedication of volunteers in and near the Oakville community.
2007 ~ The World of Threads ~
The Festival receives Oakville's prestigious Community Spirit Award for Volunteerism in the Arts and Dawne Rudman wins Oakville Volunteer of the year for her work on the festival. Festival "reach" is extended internationally, thanks to the inauguration of its website designed by Mary Kroetsch.
The Festival receives Oakville's prestigious Community Spirit Award for Volunteerism in the Arts and Dawne Rudman wins Oakville Volunteer of the year for her work on the festival. Festival "reach" is extended internationally, thanks to the inauguration of its website designed by Mary Kroetsch.
All Photographs: Copyright Gareth Bate, 2008
Five workshops and one lecture are held at Sheridan Institute. Eight exhibitions include three premiers: Threads of Remembrance (embroidered postcards from WW I), Salon Des Refuses (works refused by Common Thread jurors), New Directions - New Ideas (work by Sheridan Textile Arts students). The pARTnership with Sheridan Institute expands.
RETROSPECTIVE: Look back on the growth of the World of Threads Festivals since the first developments in 1993
Exhibition pARTnerships continue with Oakville Museum, Abbozzo Gallery, ArtWorks at Town Hall and Ristorante Julia. The Oakville guilds' collaborative recreation of a painting continues with The Mill on the Sixteen (1856) by Frederick Verner. The festival receives grants from
2005 ~ The World of Threads ~
Organizers initiate a new festival title with intention of making a familiar and popular connection with the public.
Organizers initiate a new festival title with intention of making a familiar and popular connection with the public.
Spring (rather that fall) is selected as a more suitable time, planning and promotional continuity. The festival includes seven exhibitions, three technique demonstrations by local guild artists at Oakville Museum, six introductory techniques workshops, a fundraising raffle, and two lectures. The festival organizers initiate the Oakville guilds' unique collaborative recreation in fibre arts of a festival-related painting (5x5, based on Charles Demuth's I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold, 1949).
2002 ~ Fibre Festival ~
The festival expands hugely for eleven workshops (geared to both novice and experienced fibre artists), two lectures, eighteen exhibitions, demonstrations by local artists in downtown
The festival expands hugely for eleven workshops (geared to both novice and experienced fibre artists), two lectures, eighteen exhibitions, demonstrations by local artists in downtown
The Oakville Quilters guild adds a block to this historic national quilt. The festival organizing team of 16 includes representatives from the OAC, local guilds, Oakville Museum, Sheridan Textile Studio, and Cannington House Gallery. The pARTnerships continue with Abbozzo Gallery, Green Gables Gallery, Silver Thimble Needlepoint. The festival initiates pARTnerships with Ristorante Julia, Cicada Gallery, Red Thread Gallery.
2000 ~ Fibre Arts Festival ~
The second festival organizing team of 10 includes OAC staff, Oakville guilds representatives, Sheridan Textile Studio head, Oakville Museum staff. The festival expands events and venues.
The second festival organizing team of 10 includes OAC staff, Oakville guilds representatives, Sheridan Textile Studio head, Oakville Museum staff. The festival expands events and venues.
1998 ~ Fibre Arts Festival ~ Oakville's first festival of fibre arts is initiated by Christel Wille and Oakville's five fibre arts guilds. Largely for celebrating local artists, the festival is pegged to the
Community Foundation of Oakville, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Oakville Grants to Cultural Organizations. Significant donations are made by local individuals, businesses, and organizations.
2006 ~ Charitable status is achieved. Inauguration of its first website, designed by Mary Kroetsch.
The festival continues pARTnerships with Sheridan Institute, Oakville Arts Council, Oakville Museum, Abbozzo Gallery, Ristorante Julia. A grant is received from Community Foundation of Oakville.
shop windows and at exhibition sites, sale of textile crafts from the Afghan Women's Resource Centre, children's hands-on Saturday morning "Family Patch" at Hopedale Mall, as well as visitors adding to Canada's unique Quilt of Belonging displayed at Oakville Centennial Library.
OAC's project, Common Thread. Oakville Museum, Oakville Galleries, Oakville Library, T.A. Blakelock High School, Abbozzo Gallery and other local commercial galleries provide venues for exhibitions, workshops, and lectures. The core organizing team of five guild members is headed by Christel Wille.
1994 ~ Common Thread ~
Christel Wille (noted Oakville weaver) and Oakville Arts Council inaugurate first biennial Common Thread national juried exhibition in coordination with Sheridan Textile & Design Studios. Availability of Sheridan Gallery determines date of show, whose title derives from a Virginia Woolfe quotation.
Christel Wille (noted Oakville weaver) and Oakville Arts Council inaugurate first biennial Common Thread national juried exhibition in coordination with Sheridan Textile & Design Studios. Availability of Sheridan Gallery determines date of show, whose title derives from a Virginia Woolfe quotation.
1996 ~ Common Thread ~ second national juried exhibition expands and continues success.
Return to Top | Home | Exhibitions | Submissions | Participate | Award Winners | Past Artwork
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Directions | Sponsors | Volunteers | Press | Links | Contact Us
2009 ~ The World of Threads ~ For the first time, the festival invites participants to organize or curate their own exhibitions which will be promoted as part of the festival. This is especially intended to promote fine art and experimental approaches.
Exhibition sites expand downtown to include Towne Square Art Gallery and Timothy's Cafe.
2008 ~ A new website is created by artist Gareth Bate. The web host is 100% wind powered. A new Facebook Group is launched.
The Festival owes its success to the dedication of many volunteers over the years. Their dedication helped the Festival earn Oakville's prestigious Community Spirit Award for Volunteerism in The Arts, 2007.
| Vivienne Jones |
| Kim Kernohan |
| Mary Kroetsch |
| CJ Martin |
| Leslie Masters |
| Marda McLean |
| Barbara Rennick |
| Dawne Rudman |
| Rena Sava |
| Susan Semeczko |
| Julie Verma |
| Bunty Yeoman |
| Bernadette Ward |
| Claire Wille |
| Chrystal Wille |
| Aija Zichmanis |
| Helena Asikainen |
| Margaret Ballantyne-Power |
| Helen Barnes |
| Liz Benneian |
| Kathy Bradley |
| Elizabeth Coggins |
| Jane Coryell |
| Susan Crane |
| Grace DeLottinville |
| Ruth Fawcett |
| Nancy Fisher |
| Donalda Fordham |
| Anne Harrison |
| Deborah Hudson |
The festival continues pARTnerships with Oakville Museum, Abbozzo Gallery, ArtWorks at Ristorante Julia and Oakville Town Hall, Sheridan Institute, Oakville Arts Council.