Q+A screening with Marilyn Farquhar and Angela Vos, moderated by director Ian Daffern! Marilyn's quilts will also be displayed in our Art Lounge.
In January 2020, the RCMP killed homelessness activist Barry Shantz at his home in Lytton, B.C during a mental health crisis. That morning, his partner called 911 for help. What they got was an army of police officers, including snipers, but not a single mental health worker. In response to this tragedy, his sister Marilyn creates a series of art quilts called Kairos – a Greek word which means ‘an opportune time for action’.
A Bullet Pulling Thread is a documentary that follows Marilyn’s journey through grief and tells the story of her brother’s extraordinary life. Although they grew up together in small-town Ontario, Marilyn and her brother were very different. Marilyn had a calm, peaceful, safe life as an award-winning quilter. It was nice. Her brother Barry was a fearless advocate for the homeless, a former drug smuggler, ex-con and finally a victim of police violence. One bullet brought their paths together. Marilyn began her Kairos quilts as a way to process her grief. She also believes they could be important tools to spark conversations about mental health and to motivate change in policing.
While carrying on this artistic mission, Marilyn also tries to discover why police replied to her brother’s cry for help with fatal force. In doing so, she runs up against administrations that refuse to admit culpability or take responsibility. In the summer of 2021, Marilyn packed up her quilts and drove across the country to exhibit them in Abbotsford. Her aim is to confront law enforcement with her pain and share her experiences with those who knew her brother. And as she discovers, grief is a question with no easy answers.
Marilyn Farquhar
Marilyn Farquhar is a modern and contemporary quilter from Coboconk, Ontario renowned for her floral pattern-work. Farquhar’s reputation as an imaginative, adventurous and gifted artist is known nationally and internationally. She has recent awards behind her name and an opportunity to encourage other quilters as the sole Canadian in a 12-member “inspiration squad” for Handi Quilter, a leader in the high-tech machine quilting market. In January 2020, the RCMP killed her brother Barry Shantz in Abbotsford B.C. during a mental health crisis. One year later, Marilyn began an ambitious series of quilts as a way to process her grief. This series titled, Kairos: An Opportune Time For Action has since been exhibited at the Houston International Quilt Festival, The Reach Gallery & Museum, and Quilt Conventions across North America.
Angela Vos
Angela Vos is a human rights advocate based in Hamilton, Ontario. She is also the founder of Jordan's Life, an initiative on mental health awareness inspired by her son Jordan Vos, who died while in police custody in 2020. She is considered a defender and advocate for prisoners' justice, social and legal reform related to the opioid crisis, and the rights of the homeless.
Ian Daffern
Ian Daffern is a filmmaker whose work explores the intricacies and passions behind arts and crafts. His first feature is the documentary A Bullet Pulling Thread, which won best Documentary Feature at Chilliwack Independent Film Festival; was the opening night film of the Jayu Human Rights Festival, and was presented by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The film was recently acquired by TVOntario. He also co-directed and produced the short Stitched Glass, about a knitter who uses tapestries to commonalities and critiques of world religions. This film won best short documentary at Forest City Film Festival, and screened at the Aga Khan Museum. Before working in film, Ian worked in development and story editor for network television including series for channels such as Hulu, History and the Smithsonian Channel. As a producer for Bell Media he made Bomb Girls: The Documentary which screened at Sheffield Docfest, and the Imperial War Museum Festival in London, as well as Music Lessons, directed by Michael Mabbott, a special presentation at Hot Docs 2015. His most recent films explore the intersection of art and social justice, in particular how art can be used to create positive change. He lives in Toronto.