DISCOVER DETAILS IN MEICHEN WAXER’S INSTALLATION, I WILL RELATE TO YOU

WHERE IS KIRKLAND LAKE?!?

View a map indicating the location of Kirkland Lake as well as townships where other active Jewish communities were located in the early 1900s into the 60s and 70s. Here’s a hand drawn map indicating the location of the Jewish cemetery in Krugerdorf .

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INSIDE THE INSTALLATION

This installation came together much like the original store itself: pulling in friends, repurposing and borrowing objects that relate to provisional life in the north. The false floor and table were constructed out of reclaimed shipping palettes by our friend, David Waldman. All the hanging fabrics were sourced from friends and second hand shops.

FLOUR HOPPER (HOOSIER)

On loan from Helen Winkler

Also known as a flour sifter, this object is shown upside down in this photo and in Waxer’s installation. It would have been built into a free-standing cabinet that was popular in the early decades of the 20th century to organize the kitchen. This hoosier came from the kitchen cabinet of Helen Winkler’s grandparents who lived in Ansonville. She thinks it was made in Renfrew, Ontario by a company called Barnet as it’s very similar to other Barnet cabinets that she researched. This would date it to around the 1920s. Helen shared with the artist that her grandmother had a charming sense of humour. Her modest home was playfully named “The White House” and each room followed the same naming logic, the blue room, yellow room, pink room, and so on. She said her grandmother would be pleased to know the 100+ year old hopper made it to the big time in Toronto!

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DOUGH BOWL

This antique dough bowl was part of Waxer’s childhood home and memories. She played with it as child and used it for make believe games. Dough bowls were also called trenchers. They were common in homes during the late 19th century and into the period explored in our exhibition. Wooden bowls have always been the preferred choice for bread-making because the heat generated by the yeast is retained in the wood, giving the dough an even rise—and because the bowl’s high sides protect the dough from drafts.

“I grew up with this antique dough trough, I tucked my dolls into it as if it was their bed, and would nap in it myself when I was very small. My family home (a heritage home from 1866) was decorated by my parents with period artifacts. When I picked up the trough for this installation, my mom shared that it had belonged to my Bubbie. Revisiting objects like this from my childhood with a new lens has shown me the keys to understanding parts of my family history are not all so out of reach.” ~ artist Meichen Waxer

HANDMADE BLANKET

This well-loved blanket was made by the artist’s grandmother, Jessie Waxer.

“The old tattered blanket is one of the blankets I have from my bubbie. She was a weaver and very skilled. I should have taken better care of this blanket. Textiles are, however, meant to be used. Her weavings trigger a scent memory for me, I instantly smell her whenever they are near me.“ ~ artist Meichen Waxer

RAILWAY PIN

“When I was up north this past summer, driving around with Steve Aidelbaum and my partner, we went across the tracks of the rail line that my ancestors worked on. My partner spotted this rail spike and I like to think that perhaps it was one hammered in by my family.” ~ artist Meichen Waxer

VINTAGE SKIS

“As part of my larger research project, I’ve connected with many folks with roots in the Kirkland Lake area. I made a special friendship with Stephen Aidelbaum — one of the current directors of Northern Chevra Kadisha cemetery. His father, Abe, previously held this role and oversaw the caretaking of the cemetery. Abe was also a key figure in making ski trails up around Kirkland Lake. I included this pair of vintage wooden skis in the installation as a nod to Steve and his father.” ~ artist Meichen Waxer