July 7 – August 27
Opening Reception: July 14, 6-8 pm
Featuring vibrant contemporary work by the textile artists of the Maya Women’s Rug Hooking Cooperative of Guatemala / Cooperative de Alfombras de Mujeres Maya en Guatemala, a program that encourages Maya women to produce innovative textiles combining the art of rug hooking with design elements and colors inspired by motifs from traditional, hand-woven Maya clothing. The rugs symbolize innovation, artistic endeavor, and economic empowerment.
Saturday, July 23, 10 am-4pm
Work alongside Visiting Artist Yessika Calgua Morales, a Guatemalan artisan, to design a hooked rug the “Maya way.” Yessika will be coming from Multicolores’ appearance at the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe. She will show samples of traditional, hand woven Guatemala clothing, and explain how to extract small, brocaded or embroidered elements to create a rug infused with the energy and vitality of Guatemala. Beginners or advanced artists will benefit from Yessika’s fresh approach to rug hooking. We’ll use recycled materials and hook with almost any fiber. Supply list provided. $295/$255 Textile Center Members.
About the artist
Textile artist and teacher Mary Anne Wise is Founder of the Guatemala Rug Hooking Project and current Vice President of Multicolores Guatemala. Mary Anne gave her first rug hooking workshop in Guatemala in June 2009 and it was during this time that she caught her first glimpse of, "the Maya women’s extraordinary artistic potential which was almost in direct proportion to their poverty." Seven years on, the Rug Hooking Project has been successful in providing economic benefits to female artisans in Guatemala in an environmentally sensitive and culturally respectful manner. Mary Anne will talk about the power of Maya women’s artistry to effect change. Through access to a single opportunity-to learn rug hooking-the artists transformed themselves through a process of self discovery and a robust reception to their rugs in the market place. Mary Anne has been featured in numerous magazines and publications, including
Fiber Arts and
American Craft.
Thank you to our corporate and foundation supporters
The Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
