Abstract
The History of the Crafts Guild of Manitoba
By Dot From
The history of the Crafts Guild of Manitoba, 1928-1997, is a
compelling story about intelligent, independent, creative and energetic
women who accepted a challenge, only to realize more challenges as their
determination to make a difference propelled them along many different
pathways. Perhaps most amazing of all is the fact that the Crafts
Guild continued to attract visionary women, who sensed the changing needs
of society and were able to readily adapt. Always focused on the
job at hand, they were also dreamers who had the ability to make dreams
come true.
The activities of the Crafts Guild reflected a diverse mandate --
marketing, teaching and preserving crafts -- which frequently tested
their leadership as they blazed new trails and offered prototype
models. And these same activities paralleled cultural developments
within the province and indeed Canada. Much more than a Crafts
Guild per se, its influence touched many people. There were the
destitute farm families in the 30s, the Red Cross where Guild women
contributed countless hours toward the war effort, the veterans whose
innovative rehabilitation program involving the crafts served as a model
throughout Canada, and the extension service of the Department of
Agriculture that looked to Guild members for assistance. The
Guild's teaching assignments ranged from the YWCA, to craft lectures at
the University Evening Institute and Wheel Chair Centre to the Manitoba
Home for Girls. The Guild promoted ethnic and indigenous works; the
first Inuit carvings were sold at the Crafts Guild of Manitoba. The
Guild was renowned throughout Canada for its needlework and for many
years members were called upon to display their work at all manner of
national and international conventions. Similarly they participated
in national competitions where they always won the top prizes.
Researchers wishing to study Manitoba or Canadian history, the
development of arts and crafts within the country and specifically the
province, or the history of women in the arts, will find this book a
valuable source of information about the remarkable women of the Crafts
Guild of Manitoba and the time in which they lived.
256 pages.
This publication is available for $15.00 Cdn (plus shipping)
through the:
Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library
171 Ash Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3N 0P6
Canada
(204) 487-6117 tel. & fax.
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Contact: Andrea Earl, Curator