Our worldwide climate IS changing. Higher temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, storms, and rising sea levels are just some of the changes already affecting many aspects of our lives. We take on what is left of hurricanes and are fast losing land, forests, too many homes, and our glaciers.

Changes in climate will intensify over the coming decades. I strive to understand these impacts and the options available to us if we want to reduce the associated risks and costs of climate change’s impacts, and support sound decision-making. What do we see as days go by? We see the devastation that comes with the anger of the waterways along the St. Lawrence River … and yet we need to protect the waters to survive!

In 2018, I took a painting class in a Niagara Falls, ON Hotel from a young, 22 y.o. artist from Japan. We were learning to use very long-handled Sumi paintbrushes. She was shocked when I arrived with cloth to paint on, attached to a plastic-covered 40” x 40” canvas that I was using as the frame for my artwork.  I was a total novice painter then, and have developed some skills since 2018. My art cloth here was painted this past month, reproduced as 28” x 40” here for Cloth in Common.

Because the project moved me to study and watch for the changes to our climate here in my corner of the world, GATHERING STORM II is the second time I have worked out my angst and concern about the future if we don’t pay attention. The cloth in this quilt project is for my personal collection – the original is hanging in Kingston’s City Hall and is a part of their permanent collection.

Realizing MY opportunity now: Be a vigilant and focused advocate. Learning, talking to those much wiser than I am as I traverse the rivers, and woodlands, and being a member of the Ontario Land Conservancy, I am devoting my own time and energy to even the smallest adaptation that will help. I do watch read, belong to study groups, etc., but a visual confrontation with the land and waters surrounding my homeland and beyond is an important reminder that I have a role to play and others to encourage.

It is not at all enough. We, as those who inhabit the earth, are just not all buying in…sharing our thoughts, acting on local issues, and teaching our children who will inherit these issues what to prepare for now!

Bethany Garner, 3-9, Gathering Storm II

28w x 40h

Materials: Cotton /linen blend, and cotton linen canvas. Machine stitched, framed for hanging.

Technique: Hand painted using India Ink and hand stitched with black linen thread. (Note that India Ink does have a “breakout” base colour and the golden/rust colours just “happened”). Always surprised!