Hooked on the Bay: Made during Covid-19 isolation, over 30 participants created the small squares coming together on zoom and through one outdoor event. Marlene Smith, a long-time rug hooker, and her daughter, Heather Smith, worked on the centre image of the Bay. The image was drawn by Paul Smith whose father and grandfathers were fishermen from Port Rowan.
The Inner Bay has been an essential part of all life in this area and this rug celebrates this connection to the waters of Lake Erie.
For over 200 years, rug hooking has been a very simple technique that is a great way to recycle old wool clothing or blankets. The making of this mural was meant to revive this technique by including panels made by new and experienced rug hookers, young and old alike.
Artist bio: Heather Smith, has a BFA in fine art and an MA in art history and she will coordinate the project and consider the design and installation aspects of the work. She has been rug hooking for a few years and has installed many artworks over a career spent working in public galleries in Canada.
