TEMPORARY EXHIBITS
Standing on Tradition - Rag Rug Techniques
An exhibition of rag rugs is now on display at Minnesota Discovery Center, in partnership with the Range Fiberart Guild, featuring over 150 selections from Minnesota rug makers and fiber artists.
The exhibit highlights the historical importance of rag rugs in the settlement of Northeastern Minnesota while showcasing diverse techniques of rug making including weaving, knitting, braiding, hooking, locker hooking, crochet, twining, nalbinding, wagon wheel, toothbrush and more.
Classes are being offered for those interested in learning the art of various rag rug making techniques.
An opening ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 13th from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with guest speaker and author, Janet Meany of The Rag Rug Handbook.
The exhibit runs through April 13, 2013. For more information, please call 800.372.6437.
Rag Rug Event & Classes:
Exhibit Opening
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2012
Time: 12:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Description: See the new rag rug art exhibit at the Minnesota Discovery Center. Janet Meany, author and expert on rag rugs, speaks at 1:00 PM. Sign up for upcoming rag rug classes and meet the instructors.
Guest Speaker:
Janet Meany nationally renowned for her rag rug expertise is co-author of the Rag Rug Handbook with Paula Pfaff. She also publishes The Weavers Friend, a newsletter for rag rug weavers since 1989, and The Loom Manual Library. Her articles have appeared in Interweave Magazines, Shuttle Spindle and Dye, Handwoven, Craft Connection, The Weavers Journal, and Handbook Supplements for the Spinning Wheel Sleuth. She is well known for her “Rag Rug Show N’ Tell” which features audience participation showing their rugs. Cost: Regular admission. Admission is free for MDC members.
Weaving Traditions – The Ethnic Weave Study Group of the Range Fiberart Guild and Rag Rug Show’N Tell
Date: Saturday, November 3, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Description: The Range Fiberart Guild’s long history unfolds with over 35 years of techniques and lessons learned. Take part in Janet Meany’s popular rag rug Show’N Tell by bringing your own rag rug to show.
10:00 AM Doors open
10:30 – 11:45 AM Mary Erickson and Carol Sperling
11:45 – 1:00 PM Lunch/Free time
1:00 -3:00 PM Rag Rug Show’N Tell with Janet Meany
Guest Speakers
Janet Meany nationally renowned for her rag rug expertise is co-author of the Rag Rug Handbook with Paula Pfaff. She also publishes The Weavers Friend, a newsletter for rag rug weavers since 1989, and The Loom Manual Library. Her articles have appeared in Interweave Magazines, Shuttle Spindle and Dye, Handwoven, Craft Connection, The Weavers Journal, and Handbook Supplements for the Spinning Wheel Sleuth. She is well known for her “Rag Rug Show N’ Tell” which features audience participation showing their rugs.
Carol is founder of the Range Fiberart Guild more than 35 years ago. Her interests include basketry, knitting, weaving, spinning and felting. She has exhibited her weaving at the Alpena Museum in Michigan, the Minnesota History Museum, Convergence, the Lyric Center, Minnesota Discovery Center and Hibbing Community College. She has published articles in the Threads Magazine and Handwoven magazine.
Mary received her MA at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and is currently a collections manager and exhibit researcher at the Minnesota Discovery Center. She has been a past State Representative for the Handweavers Guild of America, former Board Member to Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, and former member of the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Her weavings have been exhibited at Duluth Clinic-Virginia, Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota Exhibit in Minneapolis, Convergence in Washington D.C. ,Finnish Weavers Creative, and Convergence in Portland, OR.
Cost: Regular Admission. Admission is free for MDC members. Lunch is available for purchase at 11:45 AM.
100-year-old Loom Birthday Party!
Date: Saturday, December 1, 2012
Time: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Description: Join us to celebrate our old Katri Sari Loom. It was made 100 years ago from a curved tree. Come see this unique loom that kept the floors of Iron Range homes warm with rag rugs. Jeanne Maki and Ruth Koski will talk about the last owner of the loom, Katri Sari. Don’t forget to bring your rag rug to share in our Show’N Tell. Psst… there will be a surprise guest!
Guest Speakers
Ruth was taught to spin by Katri Sari. She was born in Finland and at 1 ½ yrs. came to the U.S with her parents settling in Hancock, Michigan and finally to Virginia, MN. She learned how to weave from Ann Hill from Embarrass, Minnesota. As a member of the Range Fiberart Guild she took classes in basketry, chemical dyeing, and flax spinning. She began demonstrating spinning and weaving in 1984 at the Minnesota Discovery Center.
Jeanne Maki is Katri Sari’s granddaughter. She has loaned the loom to Minnesota Discovery Center. Jeanne is on the Board of Virginia Area Historical Society and is a writer. She is associated with the Lyric Center for the Arts and hosts a monthly Reading Group. Cost: Regular admission. Admission is free for MDC members.
Visit our demonstrators!
Saturday, October 20 See various techniques of rag rug making!
Saturday, October 27 See various techniques of rag rug making!
Saturday, January 26 Visit Paivi and try an old loom!
Saturday, February 16 Visit Paivi and try an old loom!
For a list of rag rug classes, please refer to our calendar of events.
These activities are made possible by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature for the State Art and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
