Join Laurie at the Laurie Swim Gallery from 2 - 4 pm on Saturday, December 1 for a special event! She'll be at the gallery signing books and explaining how her most recent community venture, The Hope and Survival Memorial Quilt Project, came together. This is a great opportunity to meet Laurie, explore the gallery, find gifts, and learn about this important project.
On December 6, 1917, during World War I, a munitions ship collided with another vessel in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, and resulted in the largest man-made explosion prior to Hiroshima. It leveled the city, killing nearly 2000 men, women, and children, and continues to shape the character of Halifax to this day.
Over the course of many years, award-winning artist Laurie Swim memorialized the event in her artwork to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the tragedy in a monumental project called Hope and Survival.
Laurie Swim's Hope and Survival Memorial Quilt was on exhibit at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax from June until December, 2017. You can see the scope of this project in the image below as it was displayed at the museum. From there it traveled to the Museum of Industry in Stellarton, NS, where it remained until February, 2018.
It's now back on home turf in the gallery in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, where the centrepiece and several of the associated elements are on display. In addition, the 9 original quilt art illustrations specifically created by Laurie for her companion children's book, Hope and Survival: A Story of the Halifax Explosion, are available to view. To commemorate the upcoming anniversary, Laurie will be in place at the gallery, ready to discuss her project and explain how the Halifax Explosion influenced the many elements contained within it.
Join Laurie at the Laurie Swim Gallery from 2 - 4 pm on Saturday, December 1 for some great conversation and fine art appreciation. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome! Bring a friend!
"Christmas Tree" ~ one of nine original artworks created as illustrations for Hope and Survival: A Story of the Halifax Explosion.
Hope and Survival: A Story of the Halifax Explosion tells the story of Jess, a young girl caught up in the aftermath of the disaster. It is richly illustrated with Laurie’s unique quilt art, on snow-dyed fabric, and the book acknowledges the legacy of hope and survival that continues to this day. It is a beautifully original gift — perfect for those young and young in spirit.
Hardcover, 48 pages, published June 2017
Reviews of Hope and Survival With the right approach, learning about historic catastrophes can give kids a glimmer of hope when they overhear heavy adult discussions about world events...[Hope and Survival allows] young readers to contrast Explosion-era Halifax with the rebuilt Halifax they know today. Atlantic Books Today
This beautiful and impactful picture book, with quilt-art illustrations, tells a fictional story woven together from true accounts of events on that fateful day. The experiences of 11-year-old Jess and her family remind readers of the strength of the human spirit and the will to survive. Canadian Children's Book Centre
Remember that our hours have changed for the winter: We are open Saturdays 11 am - 5 pm or by appointment. Call Larry at 902.553.0333
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