Where Were You When
Amy Winehouse Died?

Common Thread International Exhibition

Curated by Evan Tyler (Toronto, Canada)

The Exhibition

The question posed raises concerns regarding the representation of icons and iconic images that transform and become subverted by culture throughout time. When we consider the question: "Where were you when Amy Winehouse died?" we may be asking a literal question regarding time and place, but in actuality, we are also asking a larger metaphorical question. Where are any of us when someone or something of a great cultural influence collapses and how do we deal with such an event?

The proposed exhibition, "Where were you when Amy Winehouse died?" explores ideas of representation, embodiment, pop culture and shifting iconographies. The World of Threads Festival in Toronto naturally lends itself to this theme through the use of fibre art that may be perceived as a duality – although appearing indestructible and strong, holds within its fabric, fragility and weakness.

The death of Amy Winehouse, English singer and songwriter, presents a tragedy that challenges the line between confidence and strength with insecurity and vulnerability. The present expansion of pop culture and its associated icons is possible because of the rapid increase in various forms of telecommunication. The new "threads of society" are now embodied in the Internet and cell phone usage, and powered by increasing computer capability. While these technologies help to bind us together, they are not adequate substitutes for the more traditional "threads of society" that support human endeavour. For those we must look elsewhere.

The nature of modern society is that it is much like a woven fabric and like a textile, it has both strengths and weaknesses. In addition, it is a fabric that is in a state of constant evolution, changing rapidly, creating new strengths, while others weaken. It is within this evolving social fabric that all of us live our lives, sometimes supported and sometimes restrained. The tragic death of Amy Winehouse, while predictable and perhaps inevitable, reveals that while within our modern society her lifestyle was possible, the social fabric was not sufficient to prevent her demise.

Download the 2012 Festival Exhibition Brochure.

Artists

• Canada: British Columbia: Vancouver: Britta Fluevog, Kaija Rautiainen, Ontario: Mississauga: Pat Hertzberg, Oshawa: Emily Martin, Thornhill: Marianne Burlew, Toronto: Molly Grundy, Sharon Moodie, Nova Scotia: Halifax: Meghan Macdonald.
• Spain: Seville: Mairena del Aljarafe: Asun Sánchez.
• USA: California: San Francisco: Marie Bergstedt, Florida: Winter Park: Jennifer Hirschmann.

Common Thread International Exhibitions

The Common Thread International exhibitions are the flagship shows of the World of Threads Festival. Hundreds of artists from around the world submitted bodies of work, installations or individual pieces to the Festival. Multiple curators from various Oakville and Toronto galleries have created exciting exhibitions based on their own unique interests. We bring international contemporary fibre art to Oakville and the Toronto area as well as highlight the strength of our local artists.