TEXTILE CRAFTSWOMAN
Katherine Paré
After studying architecture and visual arts, Katherine Paré turned to textile arts and continued her training at the Centre d'impression textile de Montréal, where she has been teaching for 20 years. She regularly works on exclusive costume fabrics for film and theater productions, and collaborates mainly with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.
Photo credits: Anthony McLean
MEMBER SINCE 2022
She launches her collection under the name Point K for her arrival at l'Empreinte in autumn 2022.
I work mainly with my drawings/patterns transposed onto several silkscreen frames. I improvise directly on the fabric by printing my motifs, trying out new combinations of patterns, new colors and new superimpositions. Producing unique pieces feels like a little adventure every time.
And what a joy it is to discover the result when I lift my frame, and what can I say about the wonder of the composition when I cut my fabric for sewing? A surprise every time!
Photo credits: Alain Lefort
Why did you decide to join l'Empreinte as a member? For a few years now, I'd been working on a small production project on the side, but always with the great pleasure of getting my hands dirty, of being involved in the making, and of seeing a project through to the end, to the finished built object.
But at a certain point, you can't just produce, produce, accumulate and sell to friends and at small workshop sales. I needed a broader scope. [...] I saw a call for new members and thought: this is my solution! A co-op is the perfect thing for me, as someone who is well rooted in a community.
The co-op has really given me wings, it's been a great driving force for me. I feel propelled, I'm part of a gang and we're all committed to the success of our co-op.
How do you think the cooperative makes a difference in the Quebec fine craft world?
I feel I have a place of my own to present my work, I feel free to present it, to try new things. I'm not dependent on a buyer who will only have commercial concerns motivating his choices. It's a place for me and all the members, and above all I'm not alone, far from it, because the challenges, motivations, tasks and fears are shared. I find it less intimidating to sell my products; they're part of a whole with the work of others. The co-op is an incredible showcase for everyone's art.
