New Public Art to Take Flight in Kitchener! Artists Agnes Niewiadomski and Michelle Purchase were selected in April 2025 to create Swoop, a murmur of hand-woven swallows to fill the space above the lobby in the newly renovated Mill Courtland Community Centre. The individual birds will be woven by community members through a series of workshops in late 2025 and early 2026. The willow will be locally harvested and some of the birds will be dyed with natural pigments from walnut and acorn.

Swallows are symbolic of home, resilience, protection and renewal. Through the use of flexible willow branches, and a collective sense of motion in the murmur of birds, the artwork reflects the spirit of hope, adaptability, and interconnection of nature and community. The materials remind us of the resilience of nature and how we can thrive under challenging conditions.

Please join us for a willow weaving workshop at the dates listed below. Event registration is required through our Eventbrite link.

Please note that participants should be over the age of 12. We will be using sharp tools and weaving willow requires a fair amount of hand strength to control the twisting and shaping of the material. If you experience joint pain or weakness in your hands this workshop may not be suitable for you.