Imagination Textiles
Albert J. Cote
profile
Albert was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He graduated from Brock University with a Bachelor of Arts and Visual Arts and a Bachelor of Education. While pursuing a very successful visual arts career he also owned and operated a successful hair salon for 36 years. After his wife Debbie retired from teaching, they opened a Quilt Store in Niagara Falls. Albert soon got "hooked" on fabric and combined his visual arts with his quilting arts. Al soon retired to quilt full time. Al's very creative and innovative classes soon saw him travelling all across Ontario and the U.S. giving trunk shows and workshops. In 2012 he was honoured to particpate in "Culture Canada" and his very large piece which was created with fellow artists' Irma Bull and Suzi Dwor, hangs in the Regional offices in St. Catharines, Ont. He has many commissioned pieces throughout the area including seven pieces at Hospice Niagara.
Since closing their store, Debbie and Al teach privately in their home studios. Al hosts a Fibre Art Retreat twice a year, in the spring and fall. Al has had many pieces travel in shows through SAQA. Recently he and Debbie have had pieces accepted into the Houston Quilt Market in 2017 along with other Canadian Quilters who represented Canada’s 150th Birthday. These pieces are now part of a travelling exhibit which will be displayed at many Canadian Embassies around the world. Al also has many pieces throughout the area including 7 pieces for The Stabler Centre in St. Catharine's. In the summer of 2017, he taught at The Haliburton School Art and Design for the first time and will return each summer.