“Alana Morouney’s Knotwork is a laboriouly needle-felted nautical plait, reminiscent of ship’s lines and fishing gear, that pays homage to the crafts people and communities of New Brunswick. Two delicate hands integrated into the work’s fluid form seem to mark a sort of exchange—perhaps that between the visitor and the visited. Morouney encourages viewers to consider what becomes of the various craft stalls, farmer’s markets, and gift shops once the tourist season draws to a close. A labour of love to the locales and the legacies that have kept New Brunswick communities together, this artwork acknowledges the practices, traditions, and stories that have kept people busy, kept them bonding—and in doing so, drew the attention of visitors to the area, enchanting them with charm and good humour.

    The cyclical imagery in the work emphasizes the support and strength of the community, the seasonality of the climate, and the relationship of compromise between humans and the land. Morouney used knotweed to dye the wool used in the piece. An invasive plant brought to North America from Europe in the early 1900s, knotweed has a reputation for being destructive and uninvited—not unlike the attitude sometimes expressed toward tourists. However, she has found beauty and purpose in this plant, finding ways to harvest it in her garden at home as well as embracing its abundance by utilizing it in her creative practice.

    The balance, symmetry, softness, and generosity in this delicate yet hardy piece, effectively represent the ever-continuing provincial cycles from bustling vacation time to the off season, as well as economic surges and declines as a result of the tourism industry writ large.”