Norman Barney - Crokinole Boards

Crokinole

Boards

I like to find Crokinole boards and use them in my art. I had never consciously decided to start making art with these games, it just magically happened. I usually find them in St. Vincent de Paul stores, or some such place. The older ones are the most interesting to me because of their worn marks and antique colours developed over many years of use. Most of the Crokinole boards are homemade, so there are slight variations in the way they look but the size and shape are basically the same for them all.

Playing Crokinole was an important way for a community to spend time during their long, cold winters. Crokinole games were often played during the winter months on Manitoulin Island. As a sport and pastime, Crokinole was played in tournaments at the local arena or in a community hall. Though everyone had a great deal of fun at these tournaments; the game was taken very seriously.

Now the people of Manitoulin are not feeling the need for Crokinole games. They have computers and all that is associated with them. Fortunately for me, I am able to buy some of these games, or even as I did once, take them out of someone’s roadside trash. I have been making art with these old games for several years now.

The standard size of Crokinole boards is 28.5 inches in diameter.

Norman Barney