Craft Parlour

Description:

Installed in Western Front’s library, Craft Parlour brought together a series of woodfired stoneware ceramic tablets by Rebecca La Marre, and an accompanying publication to explore the intersection of craft and writing. The exhibition also featured an original text by A Jamali Rad. 

La Marre began researching the history of writing across cultures and languages in 2017, experimenting with ways to merge her writing practice with clay. This led to the creation of experimental tools and surfaces used in art writing workshops held at institutions across Canada, including the Darling Foundry, Montréal; MacEwan University, Edmonton; and the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.

During her 2023–24 residency at Western Front, La Marre expanded this research through Craft Parlour, a six-part workshop series that brought together ten interdisciplinary artists—Rosamunde Bordo, Amelia Butcher, Xinwei Che, Hannah Crosson, Sun Forest, Amy Gogarty, Chloë p.f. Lalonde, Christian Newby, Emiliano Sepulveda, and Julia Wong. Selected through an open call, the group met monthly from October to April to explore craft, contemporary art, and art writing, with a focus on writing as a tactile, material practice. The sessions combined shared research and hands-on exercises, and were enriched by guest contributors Rob Froese, Danny Kostyshin, Sharon Kivland, and A Jamali Rad.

Designed by Manon Fraser and co-published by Western Front and Peripheral Review, the accompanying publication features original contributions by La Marre and the workshop participants, offering further insight into the ideas and processes that shaped the project. 

An opening reception was held on July 3, 2025 in conjunction with the Vancouver Art Book Fair. 

Presented in partnership with Peripheral Review and Vancouver Art Book Fair with support from the Canada Council for the Arts and SK Arts.

Curated by Susan Gibb.

Documents:

• Rebecca La Marre: Craft Parlour exhibition brochure (2025). Text by A Jamali Rad.