The Stories We Weave | Textile Workshop

This in-person textile workshop is presented in conjunction with our current exhibition Inside. Outside. Of., and is inspired by the textile pieces created by artists Ella Gonzales and Émilie Régnier that explore how our identities are shaped by spatial memories and our inner sense of self.

In this workshop, participants will work with Mississauga-based, Maroon Canadian artist Winsom Winsom to explore the potential of textiles to express aspects of personal identity. Using canvas boards and a range of fabrics, Winsom will guide participants toward creating portraits that express how their identities are shaped by where they have come from, where they are now, and where they see themselves in the future. They will be encouraged to consider the differences between how they see themselves compared to how they present themselves to the outside world, and incorporate these ideas into their portraits.

All materials will be provided, but participants are also welcome to bring their own fabrics and textiles to use for this workshop, bearing in mind that these materials will be cut and glued in the process of making their portraits.

Thank you to TD Bank Group, Rama Gaming House and Charitable Gaming, Community Good for their support of this workshop.

About the Facilitator

Winsom Winsom is a Maroon Canadian multi-media artist who works in textiles, painting, video, and installations, and has a prolific career spanning several decades. She was born in Jamaica and studied at the Jamaica School of Art. Her workexplores human spirituality and is characterized by bold colors, dynamic themes, and a sense of movement and energy. Winsom has had numerous solo and group exhibitions across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean, and her work will be featured in a two-person exhibition at the Art Gallery of Mississauga in the summer of 2025. In addition to her work as an artist, Winsom has taught art classes to students of all ages and has been recognized for her dedication to the arts community.