Main Lands and Long Winters
Jane Walker

23 September 2017 – 7 January 2018
The Rooms , Level 3 Media Room
St. John’s, NL, Canada

Commissioned by The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery

Jane Walker moved to Bonavista this past winter after a year of studying in Scotland. Alone at first, she joined the Monday night sewing group at the Legion, where she found the company of local women. The conversation often touched on family who had left for the “mainland” in search of opportunities. Walker was struck by a similar sense of longing she had observed in those who she had met in Scotland – the idea of a distant place that might have more, that might be better.

This new body of work was created while listening to these Monday conversations. Walker’s choice of steel wool reflects the hooked mat tradition of working with readily available materials. Gently rusted in places with salt water from both Troon, Scotland and Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, the stark colour scheme and uncluttered placement evoke a psychological space. A bed represents a site of rest as we contemplate two polarities: “lands that we know and lands that we long for”.

Mireille Eagan
Curator of Contemporary Art

artist text

Main Lands and Long Winters, the talk of the town it seems

It’s always relational I think, that feeling you have when you’re not on The Mainland
What is the mainland anyway?
The place with the things, the jobs, and the good fortune
The land we might resent, the land we might dream of

Mainland as elsewhere, as The Land of Boundless Material

Mainland as town,
Mainland as Canada,
Mainland as not here

Main Lands as lands that we know and lands that we long for

The lands where we sleep and the lands where we hook

The Lands that hold our Main thoughts

—

The winters here are long they say, this year especially so

Matting season and Monday nights at the Legion

Coldness and caring

Being alone and being together

Hard Work, Soft Work

Passing time

Passing thoughts

Safety in this land
Safety in this bed

Lady of the Log Cabin