The Red Thread Project: Pilgrim, 2025

Throughout the world cultural and spiritual significance is given to the red thread as a symbol for the invisible bond that connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstances. Through our journey and resulting connections, we weave meaning that becomes our life story.

In May, 2025 I was invited to participate in OPEN AIR, an exhibition and residency at Arteventura, Spain.

What do we bring as a pilgrim. a foreign traveller that shapes our relationship to place, space, natural elements and people?

I came to Arteventura with an intention to “walk lightly” on the land, to be open to and respectful of the traditions of the area and to listen to the land’s primal whisperings. I also brought a large spool of Mexican 100% cotton red thread generously given to me by taisa_textil, Guadalajara, MX., a pilgrim dress I made from 100% Mexican cotton fabric and embroidery thread.

Upon arriving at the residency my first connection was with a large Stone Oak tree. It had died the previous year and had been recently pruned. The tree became the area for my site specific installation. The work developed when I wrapped stones from the finca with red thread. One stone was bound at either end of a 6-12 foot strand of thread. To hang the stones, I threw one stone end over a limb of the Oak. Gathering the stones, wrapping them and landing them on the tree was an act of gratitude, honouring the journey of life the tree and an pilgrimage offering. The installation became a place of meditation during the day or the full moon. Moments of participating in ever changing light of a mountain environment and movement of the hanging stones caused by the wind through the valley.

There were four components to the larger installation;

1. Footprints made from finca clay

2. The Relic made from found objects, copper and hair

3. Hortum Sacrum: Sacred Garden; comprised of the Stone Oak, Mexican red thread, finca stone

4. Pilgrim wear: Mexican cotton, embroidery thread, found copper, moss, mexican henequén

Viewers were invited to touch the relic, walk through, touch and sit or lie beneath the installation of stones, receive a red bracelet and wrap a stone, The installation remained in situ.