Joanna Dermenjian holds a Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. As a Research Fellow at the Modern Literature and Culture Research Centre at Toronto Metropolitan University, Joanna is investigating women’s domestic and charitable making in textiles and exploring Canadian women’s cultural legacy at the intersection of world wars and women’s labour. Her current project explores the quilt-making operation by Canadian women across Canada during the Second World War, when hundreds of thousands of quilts were made by women and donated to the British Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) and the Canadian Red Cross to be distributed to soldiers, civilians and hospitals in Britain and Europe.
“Quilting as to War” is a 45-minute slideshow which I present live by Zoom, highlighting my research into these quilts and their importance in consideration of war history, women’s work and quilting. Images showcase some of the surviving Canadian war-time quilts along with archival photos of the women, the domestic charitable work and the home front. I am currently booking presentations for 2024.
Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies, Queen’s University – 2021
Memberships:
- American Quilt Study Group
- British Quilt Study Group
- Canadian Quilters Association
- Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites
- Kingston Heirloom Quilters
- Quilt Alliance
- Ruth Singer – Maker Membership
- Textile Society of America