In process: Woven (Post 7 - Christie Roberts)

The interwoven experiences women share is one of the themes of the Simcoe Contemporary Dancers upcoming show Woven. While working through the creation and learning process we were asked to use imagery that linked people in our lives to seasons and experiences. While exploring the season of winter, I pictured myself and my sister going on an adventure knit café in Toronto. A knit café is a special place where one can enjoy a hot beverage, find knitting and crocheting supplies, while enjoying the company and expertise of others who enjoy doing the same.

Christie Roberts in Trish Armstrong's work Aneurysm  /
Photo by Sarah Lochhead

This memory of discovering knit cafes for the first time brought me back to the memory of my grandmother teaching me to knit. I was 15 years old when she first taught me how to cast on and knit a row, and over the years I have developed a few other skills alongside my sister. Not long ago my sister and I were reminiscing about our grandmother and how we feel her presence with us, especially while knitting. I will never forget what my sister shared with me, she told me that one day while looking down at her hands knitting a row, she saw the hands of my grandmother knitting that very row. It struck a chord with me, an understanding that she will always be with us, lovingly knitting alongside us, guiding us.

I feel this ties in directly to the theme of the show Woven. The lessons and experiences that we as women share with one another is what binds us together and empowers us to be the creative and expressive individuals that we are. Join us for Woven on May 8, 2011 and share in the experience and memories!