Fogo Island has centuries-old traditions of quilting, knitting and rug hooking. These skills, born of necessity, have been passed across generations and tell stories of place. A new generation of quilters is taking the mantle and fusing the tradition of an economy of materials with new patterns that imbue a sense of meaning and storytelling in their designs. Held Over Water by Janet Langdon is a quilt that brings past and present together. Symbolic of the historic Newfoundland and Labrador culture of building houses, stages, and stores on stilts. They protect against high waters, offer scenic vistas, and allow buildings to hug the rocky shores. Stages are transitionary spaces between the land and the water, offering protection from the elements. Similarly, quilts provide a sense of security in their utilitarian warmth while providing beauty and design in our spaces. While stages aren’t used as in the past, the iconic stilts of the Fogo Island Inn help shore up opportunities for Fogo Islanders
Fogo Island, a remote outport community in Newfoundland and Labrador, boasts a resilient history shaped by its sea-dwelling inhabitants, who have thrived through generations by fishing the North Atlantic waters. Acknowledging its ancestral homelands of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Inuit of Nunatsiavut and NunatuKavut, and the Innu of Nitassinan, the island's isolation and self-sufficiency continue to influence its culture and economy. Fogo Island Workshops, a for-profit social enterprise, embraces the symbol of "shorefast," representing community, culture, and authentic connections. Utilizing a circular model, the enterprise reinvests gains from various social ventures, empowering the community through environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, business incubation, and the renowned Fogo Island Arts residency program. With complete transparency, Fogo Island Workshops directs all operating surpluses back to Shorefast for community development, securing a vibrant future for the island's unique heritage.
Please note that as this purchase is part of a charity project, we kindly ask that anyone who purchases a quilt will need to contact us to arrange shipment of the quilt or arrange collection directly from the exhibition in Nantucket.
