OWG Hosted the 2013 COE in Spinning

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The Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) offers certification in fiber arts: Weaving, Spinning, Dyeing, and Basketry.  Application who pass the rigorous requirements receive a Certificate of Excellence (COE) in their chosen field.  There are two levels of certification: the first requires proficiency in the basic arts, and the second, Master of Specialized Study, requires a focused, specialized study. An overview of the program can be found at http://weavespindye.org/pages/coeoverview.html.

Olympia Weavers Guild was privileged to host the 2013 COE in Spinning.  This year, applicants included one in Level 1 and two in Level 2.  The program involves a registrar, who assembles the submitted work for review by two examiners.  The process is overseen by two representatives from HGA.  The OWG chairperson was Lana Schneider, who generously offered her own studio as the site for the examination, which took three days: one to assemble the team and the work, and two intense days of judging and documenting the process.  Several members served as scribes, assisting the examiners in documenting the findings, and other members provided food for the committee and lodging for the HGA representatives and examiners.

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Examiner Jane Fournier and Scribe Terri Standley

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Examiner Judith MacKenzie and Scribe Kathy

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2013 COE in Handspinning Committee – Examiners Judith MacKenzie and Jane Fournier, Registrar Kate Jantz-Koprivnik and Chair Lana Schneider

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Examiners Jane Fournier and Judith MacKenzie

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Photos by Sandra Swarbrick, HGA.

Mary Ann Sanborn, the other HGA representative, gave a very interesting presentation at the October Guild Meeting on Shaker textiles.

Both of the Level II submissions were accepted, and the applicants were announced on the HGA website, and in an upcoming issue of Shuttle, Spindle, and Dyepot Magazine.

Janice Arnold: Palace Yurt at Evergreen Gallery

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Janice Arnold gave a presentation to the Guild a couple years ago. For another look at her work, be sure to visit the Evergreen State College Gallery for this exhibit:

Evergreen Gallery
Palace Yurt: Deconstructed
by Janice Arnold
Opening reception: Thursday October 10, 2013, 5-7 pm
Exhibition continues through December 11, 2013
Artist lecture:  Wednesday November 20, 11:30-1:00, Lecture Hall 1
Evergreen alumna Janice Arnold’s art and installation work has been redefining the boundaries of handmade FELT for more than 10 years. Her massive installation, Palace Yurt, a contemporary translation of traditional Mongolian structures, was the centerpiece of the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum’s 2009 Fashioning Felt exhibition in New York.
Palace Yurt: Deconstructed gives visitors a rare look behind the scenes of this groundbreaking work of textile art, including many pieces from the original installation. See how it all came together, from inspiration to logistics and technical drawings, the raw materials to the full artistic vision.
Gallery hours TBD, please check web site after Oct. 8
Evergreen Gallery - Library 2204 | 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW | Olympia, Washington 98505 www.evergreen.edu/gallery | (360) 867-5125

OWG at Thurston County Fair

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[contributed by Lana]

A milestone year for Olympia Weavers Guild’s participation at the Thurston County Fair:  It is  the 20th year we have presented a Hands On experience for the community.

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We have a weavers’ count of 203 at the 4 harness loom and surely another 40+ at the little 2 harness and tapestry looms.  Once a kid started, they wanted to do more!  And that’s not all!  There was basketry(Carol Williams), lavender wand weaving(Suzanne Victoria), inkle(a few hands here) and kumihimo.  As the photos will record, our braiding team of Gail Trotter and Jan Green kept so many people of all ages concentrating on the pattern of the 7 strand braid and stayed for more. It was all fun.

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  Besides the volunteers listed above, I need to add  thanks to Eleanor Hintz, Edith Garling, Roxanne Robertson, Judy and Larye Parkins, Pam Odam, Debra Bond-Yancey, Vickie Booth and most emphatically, Sarah Nopp, who, with me, was there daily…a groupie for pleasure.  I estimate 236 volunteer hours were contributed – and that is if everyone left on time, which just does not happen.
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  We handed out many business cards and brochures to an inquiring public.  It is always hard to say whether it will bring us active participation, but I can plainly state this:  we created a wonderful experience for so many people

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Mention needs to be made of all the ribbons members brought home with them.  I am afraid to list them as I know I will miss something.  But I do have to draw attention to Terry Schurke’s Grand Champion piece – her tencel huck lace shawl.  What a way to go, Terry.  You show OWG in pride.
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Weaving sculpture in Olympia

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At the new Hands On Children’s Museum:

World-renowned environmental artist Patrick Dougherty will weave an amazing two-story stick sculpture for our new Outdoor Discovery Center. From August 1-16, he will bend nature into art to create a giant, walk-through structure. For more info about his work, which includes sculptures in California, Hawaii, Australia, and France, visit www.stickwork.net.

 

http://www.hocm.org/page.php?id=547

 

ANWG Booth

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ANWG 2013 was a great conference, and the guild booths were outstanding in their innovation. Olympia didn’t get a ribbon, but there was a lot of interest shown in the many bags, baskets, and other “baggage” displayed. For those who missed the conference, here is a photo of our booth:

Olympia Weavers Guild 2013 ANWG booth "The Baggage We Carry."

Olympia Weavers Guild 2013 ANWG booth “The Baggage We Carry.”