Willard plans to devote energies on quilt making (Continued from page 1) make of him. His unconventional appearance aside, he was obviously overâ€"qualified for what she had in rind. Perhaps, she thought, he would cut out as soon as something better came along. But Laurie Hewitt â€" a local antique dealer â€" put in a good word for the young man (who also dabbled in antiques), and Willard promised solemnly to do the job for at least one year. He was true to his word â€" and then some. "We often laughed about that as time went on," Willard reported, in a recent interview. It was February 1973, when Male decided to give him a try. The partâ€"time job would become a fullâ€"time job withâ€" in six months, and in due course, an pening would appear in the newly creâ€" ated Publicity and Promotions Department, under Chief Librarian Chris Manders. It was an area for which Willard‘s artistic talents were distinctly suited. The years from 1973 to 1985 hummed by at the library and Willard as in his element helping to organize and promote a dizzying program of eekly visiting authors â€" like Morley allahan and Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, and Farley Mowat â€" plus ednesday movie nights and Sunday oncerts. In February of next year (1995) when John retires, he will have served he Oakville Library, through thick and in, for a total of 22 years. "The decision (to retire) was not without personal anguish," admitted the Burlington resident. "It‘s a big step for me. But I‘m not the type who plans life 0 the Nth degree. I just sort of close my eyes and jump in. That‘s what I‘ve always done." An impetuous guy then. What he‘s jumping into next year is a new career s quilter, lecturer, and workshop leadâ€" er. Willard, who took up the traditional raft of quilting almost 20 years ago, aad his first oneâ€"man show in 1988 at ur own Centennial Gallery. His quilts e anything but traditional in design. powever, and his large format pieces ommand prices in the $4,000 to $5,000 range. A sample of his magnifiâ€" ently whimsical style hangs in the hildren‘s library in the Main Branch. Titled "Toucans, Tigers and Zebras â€" [Or. my!" The quilt was made to comâ€" emorate the passing of coâ€"worker Pat vans.) Willard had been very interested in fintiques and old quilts for a number of years, prior to taking up a needle himâ€" elf. In fact, it was more than an interâ€" it was a business, and over the years. he had accumulated some 50 or 0 traditional quilts for his collection. It as in 1975, however, that he experiâ€" Enced something of an epiphany when e library acquired a new book â€" The Pieced Quilt â€" by quilt artist Jonathan olstein. "It blew my socks off," the exuberâ€" mt library man recalled. It was shortly after reading this Jook that he constructed his first quilt, nade from scratch, using the traditional Lone Star" motif. His second quilt as also in a traditional vein, but his ird piece was bolder â€"â€" more folk art an bed linen â€"depicting a stylistic tanic going down in the North fantic. An artist was born. It was then that he met the esteemed erican quilt artist Michael James at meeting of the Etobicoke Quilter‘s uild. Willard was stunned by the conâ€" mporary designs in quilting which ere coming out of the burgeoning art ene south of the border, and he was pspired. He signed up for some workâ€" frops, and to this day, continues to explore and develop the potentials of this pioneer craft. As a boy growing up in New Brunswick, Willard says, he was shy but always creative. The shyness would melt away eventually, but the creativity would continue to grow. "I am something of an extrovert now," he allowed. His sensibilities have been strongly influenced by folk art, both traditional and modern â€" which may partly explain his bold use of color â€"and he still carries his Pentax camera wherever he goes. Married and divorced twice, John would come out of the closet in 1979, on his 40th birthday. "My gift to myself," he likes to say, and added, that Oakville has never been anything but good to him. Sadly, however, when I interviewed the gentleman, he was still on the edge of melancholy, having lost his 82â€"yearâ€" old mother in early November. Less than a year ago, his father, also 82, had passed away. Here he was suddenly orphaned in his midâ€"50s â€" a sobering thought at any age â€" and at the same time embarking on a risky career Do You Own MUTuAL Wondering if you made the right choice? For a free, objective analysi or for help in making the right choice before you buy â€" call Nesbitt Burns today. Nesbitt Burns â€" working Call::. Your Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor (416) 359â€"4597 @3) neseitt BurNs Member of the Bank of Montreal Group of Companies KNOWLEDGE l_s POWER change. He‘s coping. (For one thing, he‘s quilting! "Very therapeutic," he says.) He has nagging doubts about his future, of course, but he also has a proâ€" found confidence in his abilities. In March, Willard will travel to the island of Antigua for a show of his smaller format pieces. (These smaller | quilts are generally priced between $300 and $400.) Back home, in April, | he will do a workshop in Barrie, Ontario; and then, in May, at Mohawk | College in Hamilton. He‘s off to Long Island, NY, in June, to lecture some _ | likeâ€"minded textile art enthusiasts. Last summer, he was asked to speak | at a prestigious Quilt Design Symposium in Columbus, Ohio. He is | clearly hoping these kinds of opportuâ€" nities will continue to pop up to suppleâ€" I ment his intermittent artistic sales. In an ideal world," he mused, "I‘d prefer to be in my studio making quilts â€"lecturing now and again â€" showing slides, and possibly giving workshops from time to time." A man of many moods and some courage, Willard is sensitive, creative, generous, warm. He also gets cranky sometimes. Nevertheless: Funps:? s of your mutual funds â€" in your best interests. p preâ€"recorded ONE OF CANADA‘S LARGEST CABINETRY MANUFACTURERS IN BUSINESS OVER 20 YEARS WE OFFER... * relaxing atmosphere * 12 exciting displays to view ‘| * professional designers * Fully assembled cabinetry * fully installed packages FACTORY DIRECT _ | M s im SHOWROOM | _ MISSISSAUGA, ONT. MON.â€"FRI. 10AMâ€"8:30PM (905) 279â€"6194 10AMâ€"5PM SEE OUR ____HWY #401 ___| 5 oo "John is very well thought of around here," said one of his coâ€"workâ€" ers. "He gives great hugs. We wish him well." And there is, no doubt, he is pasâ€" sionate about his work. (Some might it‘s all or nothing." §448 even say obsessive.) 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