Peace Blanket
Art for Newcomers and Friends Group at the Cowichen Intercultural Society/Immigrant Welcome Centre of Cowichen with the direction of Francois Moulin Durham
Shawnigan Lake, BC, Canada
For their Global Art Project for Peace art, a group at the Immigrant Welcome Centre of Cowichen created blankets by knitting together scarves that were made by knitters from the eleven communities in the Cowichan Valley. One blanket was sent to their Global Art Project exchange group in Bisbee, Arizona, USA. The other blankets were given away to good cause organizations that could use the blankets.
Letter from Francois Moulin Durham to their exchange group:
Hello
“I am Francoise et I am happy to exchange our project with all of you. It is super exciting! I am living on Vancouver Island on the East coast of Canada. I am working as coordinator for Immigrants and refugee. I do a art program too called Art for Newcomers and Friends. On my personal life, I am an artist too and do reflexology.
“ I went to visit on line Bisbee and it is fantastic! So colorful city.
“On our side, we have created an old and new project with scarfs to become 5 blankets. The scarf were created Spring 2014. 180 feet of wool united nearly 359 men, women new and longtime citizens, Cowichan residents.
“Many time, Katherine Josten and I were wondering what we can do with the scarf. It was displayed at Duncan library and at CIS. Then, sleeping in a box for many years until…. Today.
“Where the blankets will go? We don’t know yet. It was the process which was the most important. All was done with patience, love and charisma but with joy, the scarf has a new life and we want to send one to you.
“I am sending to you some pictures too.
“ I am looking forward to meet you.”
Warmly,
Francoise Moulin Durham
