If you’re Canadian, you’re likely familiar with Laura Secord, the Niagara housewife who ran 26 miles through enemy territory to warn the British and their aboriginal allies of an impending attack by American forces in the war of 1812. Artist and designer Barbara Klunder, a Secord descendant, tells the inspiring tale in exquisite papercuts at the Rodman Hall Art Centre at Brock University in St. Catharines, the region where the Canadian heroine trekked through frontier forest 200 years ago this week. (Above: Detail, Marathon Dress)
Klunder wrote and illustrated this 6” by 6” handcrafted book with French fold pages and foil-stamped front and back covers. Book images are from Reactor, the design firm where Klunder is associated. Other images in this post are from her Laura Secord exhibit in November at Toronto’s David Kaye gallery.
-St. Laura
-Marathon Dress
-War of 1812
Barbara Klunder is well known internationally for her bold graphic style, political messages and provocative imagery. This current exhibit at Brock University commemorates the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
Barbara Klunder’s website, here.
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Categories: Fiber and Paper, Heritage
Canadian Art Junkie 
Wonderful! Art, craft, skill, heroism, athleticism, courage – incredible back story to go with the amazing papercuts.
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That is just such a perfect description. The artist and the heroine – both dynamite. Thank you.
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Reblogged this on Canadian Heritage Society and commented:
Mother had the Laura Secord cookbook. Had many a wonderful dish perpared from those pages.
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I’d forgotten about Laura Secord cookbooks. Certainly saw a few of them growing up. But now, I can only reliably conjure up the chocolates (probably because they’re in virtually every major mall).
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thanks boomeron
i’m just realizing another connection now,
that my mom loved going to laura secord’s
for ice cream & chocolate. this was her one indulgence!
& i just google searched laura secord & discovered that
my middle child shares her birthday, september 13.
another connection ’cause meara, even at 10 years old,
is dependable, she’ll get the job done!!
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So obviously meara has frontierwoman genes!
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Hey, that’s polefruw. Thanks for the news.
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A wonderfully unique form of expression.
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Yes indeed, and as Catherine mentioned, so much patient, detail work that makes it even more amazing.
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I appreciate the detail, and what goes into it, as well.
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looks like the images could be made into wallpaper.
very much have a william morris feel to them.
i find the cut-out technique really lends itself well
to the subject matter, has a skeletal effect. & it was
only on second glance that i noticed the skeletons
laid out in the pages of the open book!
i see the date june 22 on the skirt of the dress.
this has a special meaning to me, in a sad way.
my mother passed away 5 years ago on june 22.
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I agree with you on the cut-out style being coherent with that era, and the kind of gothic darkness of Secord’s mission. This artist did a superb job of capturing the “look” of that time, I think. (So sorry Michelle that this week brings you such a sad memory)
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Patience, artistic inspiration, and technical skill combined in ways that amaze me…Wow!
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This artist’s papercuts on all topics are phenomenal. The Laura Secord exhibit is especially engrossing – and btw, the War of 1812 was actually declared 200 years ago today.
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