As you may have noticed, we have updated the News (finally!) and the patterns for the 52 fish species are now posted as PDFs in the Pattern section. Also included is a PDF of the instructions of how to craft a textile fish as created for the original FishNet exhibition.
The release of fish to schools throughout the Great Lakes basin is almost complete. In total, 276 fish have been sent to elementary schools in Ontario, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Indiana. We have already heard from a few of the teachers who have received fish and are happy to welcome them into their schools and communities.
FishNet is featured in the current issue (September 2009, Vol.8/3) of the British design journal, Visual Communication, based on the theme of Information Environments. The project is explained through a 12 page colour visual essay. Many thanks to editor Teal Triggs and production manager Kate Price at Sage Publications.
From January to April 2009, FishNet was exhibited in a revised format in the Idea! Gallery at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, ON. The installation consisted of graphics highlighting key fish species related to the development and sustainability of the Great Lakes; digital and video displays from the Harbourfront exhibition in Spring of 2008; the display of the 52 fish species used in the project; and an explanation of the crafting process. Approximately 700 fish were hung outside the gallery in the Hot Zone area. An additional display of some of the smaller species were in a separate corridor.
FishNet would like to thank Ana Klasnja, Sabrina Greupner and Kevin Von Appen and the staff at the Ontario Science Centre for their support in the implementation of the exhibit. We also would like to thank intern design students, Jennette Weber and Rahul Kapoor from the York/Sheridan Joint Bachelor of Design program for their assistance with the graphics and web site update.
Below are several images from the exhibition:
Idea! Gallery entrance
Great Lakes panels with key species
View through gallery
Display with 52 fish species and crafting
View of video display
Hot Zone fish “chandelier”
Hot Zone fish animation projection
Corridor FishNet display
Display cases
Close up of graphics
The FishNet exhibition at the York Quay gallery, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario opened on the evening of May 2nd, 2008. It was a wonderful event, well attended by lots of kids who were delighted to “swim” among the fishes.
Claire and Angela would like to thank all of the Harbourfront staff of Visual Arts, School Visits and Planning who committed to the project from the beginning and helped to facilitate the realization of the vision that is in the exhibit now. Also we want to acknowledge the support of Inner City Angels administration and artists, the Toronto District School Board Ecoschools, Visual Arts and ArtsJunktion and the Ontario Arts Council.
Countless volunteers worked with us over the past year and in the last month to make the project a reality. It really has become everyone’s artwork. Visit the Collaborators section to see a full list of participants.
The exhibit is open until June 22, 2008. You can also see all the fish featured in the exhibit at www.projectfishnet.org/gallery/gallery.php. Many thanks to Matt and Andrew for getting the galleries ready in time for the exhibit opening. There will be continued updates to the site, so check in regularly.
We hope you will be able to see the exhibit and please send any feedback!
All images courtesy Bernice Iarocci
Below are some images from one of the nine days of FishNet School Visits workshops held at Harbourfront Centre from January 15th to 25th. We had 13 schools, 30 classes, 727 students and many parents and volunteers participate. Many thanks to the wonderful School Visits teachers and Inner City Angel artists and volunteers who led the children through the process of painting, stenciling, stuffing and sewing their fish. The results have been amazing .
Four days of workshops will be held at Harbourfront from February 26th - 29th and for a few days in March with another 13 schools participating.
Stay tuned for more!
Students looking at the colours and markings of the smallmouth bass.
Using paints and pastels to add colour and texture.
A smallmouth bass in progress.
For most of January Angela and Claire were busy gathering materials and supplies for the Harbourfront Centre School Visits fish crafting sessions which ran from January 15th - 25th. This is the second trip we made to the TDSB ArtsJunktion to pick up stuffing. The roof rack really came in handy. Many thanks to Eileen Orr for finding a supplier and storing it for us. Now it is in the bellies of all the fish created over the last two weeks!
The Stitch-A-Fish workshops on Saturday, November 15th and Sunday, November 16th at Harbourfront Centre were a great way to jump start the fish crafting process. We had 25 friends, volunteers, Inner City Angel artists, and textile artists through the 2 days who helped to cut, iron and sew the fish bodies that will be embellished by approximately two thousand TDSB Grade 4 students during workshops in January and February. Many, many thanks to everyone who contributed and who continue to support the project – in no particular order: Kim, Andrew and Leah, Steffanie, Jocelyn, Tai, So Young, Leah, Louise, Ashley, Eleni, Emily, Marie, Marina, Amelia, Bernice, Isabel, Angela, Dianne, Amy, Charmaine, Karen, Judy, Allycia, Lisa, Alex and baby Kiran and Sarah. Thanks to Ilene and Patrick at Harbourfront Centre for their support as well.
The fish-making continues until mid-January so if you would like to participate in any way, please contact us at info@projectfishnet.org.
Here are a few images from the festivities. You can see more on Flickr.
Lots of busy hands
A Pink Salmon under construction (Image: Amy Barnes)
Precision Bowfin cutting
A flurry of activity - sewing and ironing
Eleni, our resident FishNet promoter extraordinaire has created some fish collages for fun and amusement. Click on the images below to see them at a larger size.
The next big FishNet event will be the Stitch-A-Fish workshop at Harbourfront Centre on Saturday, November 17th and Sunday, November 18th, from 10 - 5 pm. During the workshop we will be cutting, sewing and ironing all the different fish bodies and fins for the Grade 4 students to transform into imaginative and unique interpretations of their species in January and February during their crafting workshops at Harbourfront. There will be snacks, fun, laughter and an exchange of stories about all things fishy and crafty. If you would like to volunteer some time, please contact us at info@projectfishnet.org.
