Kirk Dunn – The Knitting Pilgrim
Prompted by the tragedy of 9/11, Kirk Dunn, an actor, writer and textile artist, began to explore the connections among the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Over the course of 15 years, he found himself knitting a triptych of beautiful tapestries in the style of stained-glass windows demonstrating how the three faiths have more in common than not.
Dunn, known as the Knitting Pilgrim, will present a one-hour show at this year’s Abraham Festival in which he talks about his spiritual and artistic journey completing the hand-knitted tapestries. Dunn will be intertwining stories of the rise of xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, fear of ‘the other,’ and how social media pours gasoline on the fire. At the end of the show, he will reveal his stunning knitted panels to the audience.
The presentation will take place at the Festival Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. at St. James United Church on Romaine Street. The theme for the Festival this year is “Connecting Threads for Peace”. During his talk, Dunn will encourage the audience to knit alongside him, providing baskets of yarns and needles, while he knits in front of three large projection screens. Interviews with Christian, Muslim and Jewish consultants, adding their perspectives to his journey, are projected on the screens. The one-hour show will be followed by a 30 to 45 minute talkback where the audience can meet Dunn. By the end of the show, Dunn shows how the Abrahamic faiths all strive for the same thing: peace.
The Abraham Festival is a Peterborough gathering of the spiritual descendants of Abraham, celebrating the similarities among the faiths and endeavouring to demystify “the other”. This is its 21st year. The Festival begins when visitors are invited to Jummah prayers and sermon Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. at St. James United Church, followed by Shabaat at 6 p.m. at Beth Israel Synagogue.
On Sept. 15, there will be a Christian service at 10:30 a.m. at St. James United Church, with a vegetarian potluck lunch, presentation of this year’s Hospitality Award, and Dunn’s performance after the service.
All events are by donation.