Hanky Project
Project Objective
The objective of my current textile work is to commemorate and acknowledge the lives and collective sacrifices of les filles du roi. Through this project I hope to examine the position of women in New France (aka Canada) between 1663 and 1673. The Hanky Project will elevate the story of les filles du roi as essential figures in Canadian history.
The concept has emerged through the amassed collection of 1000’s of handkerchiefs and the desire to create a commentary about women’s stories. Initial research informs us that the filles du roi received a handkerchief as a component of her trousseau from the king. During the marriage ceremony the bride was also given an embroidered handkerchief symbolizing the patience required of a wife in the colony of New France.
The names of the 768 filles du roi, will be stitched using red thread symbolizing life blood, death and sacrifice. I will invite the public to participate in stitching the names. Individuals can join me through community engagement activities and virtually by special invitation. Handkerchiefs may be sent to participants to stitch and return. Subsequently, the handkerchiefs will be stitched collectively onto a series of textile panels. The textile foundation panels are handwoven by an artist in Levis, Quebec. The bedclothes represent women's work and the myriad of intimacies and atrocities that have been endured by hundreds of women then and today.
Artist Statement
It seems right to me that historic ‘women's work’ be used to acknowledge the king’s daughters. Simple work with cloth and thread with love and intention in every stitch. A humble response to great courage and sacrifice. Four textile panels composed of traditional hand woven Quebec style catalognes and vintage handkerchiefs will carry the names of les filles de roi - daughters of the king who received handkerchiefs, fabric, pins and sewing needles in her trousseau when she was selected to come to the colony of New France between the years of 1663 and 1673.
The very nature of textile entices the viewer to want to reach out and touch the work. In the same way I hope that the symbolism, historical significance and the scale of the work touches the viewer in a personal way. I hope that it causes more people to understand the complex nature of our collective history in this country, we call Canada. Women's work did have and does have importance.
In a way, textile work is out of step with the current technological culture. However, ‘women's work’ as it has been known in the past is gaining recognition as heritage craft moves into the art world. We all have experiences with cloth. Cloth comments on memory, loss, celebration and work. Hand stitching by nature is laborious and forces us to slow down. In this slowness, we can consider our own thoughts and feelings and how we exchange with others and operate in the world.
This analog project will emerge in a very slow and methodical way, by hand, one stitch at a time.