A Light in the Window: Symbols of Memory
Designed as a community art project to complement Echoes of Memory: Featuring A Crow A Day at the Museum of North Vancouver, A Light in the Window: Symbols of Memory brought members of the public into a conversation connecting symbols to our memories.
Based on the shape of a log cabin quilt block, A Light in the Window was a collaborative quilt, created from January to July 2025. Participants attended four workshops and stitched personal symbols onto fabric. The unattached panels hung in the main gallery alongside two other finished pieces of Jennie’s work. After each workshop, symbols were attached to the panels. The process of evolving an artwork in real time made the exhibit dynamic and intimate.
Created to honour those of us living with or caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia, the light in the window and symbols of this piece cherish the enduring spirit of our loved ones, reminding us of their humanity, dignity, and all that remains despite the loss of their memories.
Research around memory loss has found that symbols are better at triggering memories than words. Something about our brains find images easier to hold on to.
Each person’s symbol invoked a specific memory for them, but the symbols can also offer all viewers the chance to associate their own recollections with the images as well.
Holding space for those we love and care for whose memories may be foggy, fading, or lost, this quilt is a record of time and the wonderful community members who contributed their symbols. A Light in the Window is now a part of the Museum & Archives of North Vancouver Permanent Collection.
Press write-ups about the project here. Click the photos to read the articles.
Making of A Light in the Window
This video shows the process of making this quilt from beginning to end. Please reach out if you or your organization is interested in working to create a similar project. Visit my contact page for my details.