The Cotton Factory is a historic textile mill built in 1900 as the Imperial Cotton Company. Today, it’s a cultural hub, part of the creative heart of Hamilton. In addition to tours of this gorgeous industrial landmark, artists and artisan tenants will be opening their studio doors and hosting a market place with art, jewellery, handmade clothing, one-of-a-kind furniture, and crafts.
Continuing the theme of textile manufacture and art, Hamilton’s Coppley Apparel, which opened in 1883, was the inspiration for a fascinating exhibition at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. In Piece Work, artist Sara Angelucci was inspired by the work experiences of her mother, who immigrated to Canada from Italy in the 1950s, and had her first job as a seamstress at Coppley. Angelucci photographs the working hands of Coppley’s current sewers who come from more than thirty countries. Combined with images of historic sewing patterns, a sound installation and interviews with Coppley workers, this exhibition gives a glimpse into historical and contemporary manufacturing, its relation to the beauty of craft, and labour and immigration history.