Grad project pieces together pandemic experiences
It was the COVID-19 messages and symbols Brenda Reid saw throughout her Kitchener neighbourhood a year ago that inspired her community-quilt project for people to share virus stories.
The 蓝莓视频 architecture master鈥檚 candidate, who was researching the topic of care in architecture for her thesis when the pandemic struck in March 2020, created the initiative for people living in Kitchener, 蓝莓视频 and Cambridge.
鈥淲hat caught my attention on my neighborhood walks were the ways people used space to communicate with each other 鈥斕齠rom sidewalk chalk to
ribbons on trees to signs on lawns,鈥� Reid says. 鈥淚 wanted to capture individuals鈥� COVID experiences in a permanent way.鈥�
Architecture grad student Brenda Reid ties quilt blocks together. Photo courtesy of Erik O'Neil.
Since launching From Behind the Mask in October 2020, Reid has distributed 1,500 quilt-block kits she assembled with the help of volunteers. So far, she has received over 400 completed designs on pieces of fabric resembling face masks with more expected before the April 30 deadline.
When she started her project, Reid, a graduate of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 undergraduate architecture program, was conscious that people were having very different experiences in the pandemic.
鈥淲hat I received back was really that,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 surprised even myself with the variety and the subject matter of the blocks. Everyone鈥檚 story is important and valuable and that鈥檚 what this quilt is really about.鈥�
Six of the over 400 blocks submitted for the听community quilt.听
Individuals from three to 89 years old have submitted blocks in at least four different languages using a wide variety of mediums from traditional types of fabric to paint, crayon, yarn and beads.听Most have the contributor鈥檚 name and a description of the block鈥檚 meaning on the reverse side.
Schools across 蓝莓视频 Region have been involved in the project with many using From Behind the Mask as a classroom art project.听听 听听
Some of the blocks returned to Reid highlight specific activities including making sourdough bread, a popular pastime particularly at the beginning of the pandemic, responding to widespread shortages of yeast.听 A piece of yellow towel was used for the loaf with the embroidered words Mmm, Mmm
Good beside it.
A message board promotes the project.
Another features three deaths and three births that all took place in 2020.
鈥淚t sort of talks about the cycle of life 鈥斕齮hat鈥檚 a lot of loss and a lot of new life in such a short period of time,鈥� Reid says.
A 14-year-old designed their block into a fabric storybook.
鈥淚t tells a story about how they have really begun to enjoy reading during the pandemic and that it has become their source of entertainment,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey listed a whole bunch of books that they鈥檝e read. I thought that was so cool.鈥�
Currently, a team of volunteers from Kitchener鈥檚 Volunteer Action Centre and elsewhere are assembling the blocks, which will听then be tied into the quilt. The finished work of art will be on display from May 21 to August 29 at the located on Old Mill Road in Kitchener.
鈥淲e鈥檒l work out ways to film or photograph it so people who don鈥檛 get to see it in person will be able to see it online,鈥� says Reid. 鈥淭he hope is that the quilt will be set up in different locations throughout the tri-cities before being finding a permanent home in the area.鈥�
Within her community project, Reid also invited听School of Architecture students, faculty and staff members to participate with stories tied back to
the site of the school.
With most students听away from the school鈥檚 Cambridge campus for over a year, she felt they also needed a way to express their pandemic thoughts and feelings.
Patches were contributed by students learning remotely in听Vancouver, Edmonton, Connecticut and throughout Ontario.听听
Quilt blocks submitted by the School of Architecture community.
The 18 on display in a window of the Design at Riverside Gallery include one Reid produced.
Describing her block as a bit chaotic,听Reid says its different knots, textures and colours symbolize both her anxious and beautiful moments over the past year.
鈥淚 really enjoyed creating it. I spent a lot of time on it when I was working on my thesis document,鈥� she says, adding with a laugh, 鈥渋t gave me a chance to keep myself off the computer for a bit.鈥�
