Joan Churchill

Never a fan of textbook school learning, Joan Churchill was always a hands-on kid. When the itchy time came to stretch her restless wings, that hands-on spirit led her to Montreal’s film industry.

What followed was a long and illustrious freelance career in the world of classical handcrafted animation. Joan’s work included 3D pixilated television commercials, Christmas specials, television series, and both long and short award-winning films at the National Film Board of Canada.

At the National Film Board, Joan eventually moved into the realm of documentary filmmaking as a Graphic Artist. As her range of visual responsibilities grew, so did her creative world — and she became a VERY happy camper.

After her film career reached its zenith, an unexpected landing in Prince Edward County sparked a new flow of creative juices and found Joan creating artwork of her own.

While treasure hunting in local thrift stores, Joan was captivated by the massive amount of exquisite women’s needlework she discovered: ladies’ wear, kitchen linens, pillowcases, beautiful cotton, linen and silk hand-sewn hankies, reams of lace trim — and, most of all, the dollies that stole her heart.

Joan began to think: The world needs to see and appreciate this refined variety of exquisite threadwork in a different light.

And so began a new artistic chapter. Joan started collecting these beautiful, often overlooked treasures and creating layered curtains and sculptural works that reveal the intricate patterns, textures and craftsmanship she sees within them.

Her work is a celebration of forgotten treasures, the artistry of handwork and the unexpected beauty that can emerge when something from the past is viewed in an entirely new way.

Joan Churchill’s work is on permanent display at the gallery. To see more of his work go to our online SHOP.