Bridging Communities with Crochet

Image: Emebet – Inspired by Singapore’s Alkaff Bridge

By Drew Gray
For publication May 7, 2025

Bridging Communities: Emebet Belete’s Vision for a Crochet-Covered Bridge

Belleville-based mixed media artist Emebet Belete is known not only for her captivating, internationally exhibited artwork but also for her deep commitment to arts advocacy and community engagement in Eastern Ontario. A long-time member of the Quinte Arts Council, Belete’s creative energy continues to inspire through her latest project: Bridging Communities.

Bridging Communities is a large-scale public art installation that will see Belleville’s Upper Front Street Bridge transformed with vibrant, hand-crafted crochet pieces. This joyful “yarn-storming” effort is supported by the City of Belleville and the Ontario Arts Council and will be installed once the city completes scheduled bridge renovations.

Belete has been leading this ambitious initiative through workshops and crochet circles across the Quinte region, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds. Currently, she is teaching elementary and high school students and running weekly community workshops at both the Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Centre and here at the QAC Cultural Hub.

While the bridge installation is still to come, the Quinte Arts Council is here to offer a preview. This May, we’re hosting a special exhibition at the QAC Cultural Hub to showcase the collective progress made by project participants. Using weather-tested materials, the colourful, large-scale crochet works will be suspended from ceiling to floor—highlighting the artistry and dedication of dozens of volunteers.

“Emebet’s work exemplifies what community-engaged art is all about—bringing people together, inspiring creativity, and transforming shared spaces,” says Janet Jarrell, Executive Director of the Quinte Arts Council. “We’re honoured to support this project and proud to shine a light on the incredible contributions of everyone involved.”

Join us to witness the evolution of this powerful community collaboration. The opening reception for the Bridging Communities preview exhibition takes place Thursday, May 8, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. The exhibition runs from May 9 to 29 at the Quinte Arts Council Cultural Hub.

Come and be inspired—and imagine the beauty of a bridge brought to life with crochet.

 

About the artist:

Emebet Belete grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  In 1985 she was accepted into the Addis Ababa School of Fine Arts – she was one of only 4 female artists to enter the school that year, and one of a handful of students selected from over 500 applicants.

After graduating, she worked as a studio artist.  She was written up in Revue Noire (Paris) as an up and coming Ethiopian artist.  Among her other achievements was editing and publishing the first catalogue of women artists’ work in Ethiopia (FOWA: the Friendship of Women Artists), an organization that she led in its first few years.  (It still works to promote art education in Addis Ababa schools, and to support new artists entering the profession.)

In 1997 she emigrated to Canada, where she completed both fine arts and education degrees at Queen’s University, and continued to work as a studio artist.

Travel has always been part of her life.  In 2008, she moved to TEDA, Tianjin, China with her family, where she taught art to an enthusiastic group of elementary students at Teda International School, as well as continued creating her own artwork, often inspired by the images around her.

She returned to Canada in 2013, where she can now be found in Belleville,On, creating art in her studio, and running educational workshops. (Emebet was an Ontario Arts Council Artists in Education Grant winner for the 2015 – 2016 year.)