PAINTING WITH WOOL: The Hooked Rugs of Janet Conner

I sit at my computer as hurricane Igor approaches. We are hunkered down in a tropical storm wave awaiting Igor's arrival around 10 pm tonight. In the mean time, I have power and some time so thought I would share the information with you about our exciting guest artist at the Fryeburg Fair Fiber Center this year.


FIBER ARTIST JANET CONNER GUEST ARTIST FOR 2010 FRYEBURG FAIR FIBER CENTER EXHIBITION

PAINTING WITH WOOL: The Hooked Rugs of Janet Conner

Maine Fiber Artist Janet Conner known for her original hand hooked rugs and mats, is Guest Artist showing her work at this year’s Fryeburg Fair. The Fiber Center Exhibition opens on Sunday October 3rd to Saturday October 10th from 9am to 9pm daily and ends on Sunday October 10th from 9am – 6pm.

Ms. Conner’s work is considered primitive or country Victorian in style. All designs are original; the wool strips are cut by hand from recycled and heirloom fabrics and many of the colors are the result of natural dyes. The family tools she uses were inherited through three generations and her greatest influences have been the study of antique textiles and folk art, as well as the landscapes, museums and cultural experiences from her international travel.

Because of Ms. Conner’s 30 year career as an elementary art teacher, she continues to enjoy her enthusiasm for teaching by providing various classes for beginning and experienced rug hookers in pattern design, dyeing for special color effects, and Folk Art style rug hooking. She also offers advanced workshops in Van Gogh Inspired Rug Hooking, and couture hooked bags.

Ms. Conner in 2004 was selected for her exceptional work as one of the 200 Best Traditional American Craftsmen by Early American Life Magazine’s jury of Curators from Historic Williamsburg, Sturbridge Village, and Shelburne Museum. Additionally, in 2004 her work was been exhibited at the Moore College of Art Alumnae juried Exhibition in Philadelphia. In Maine, her work has been seen at, the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk, the Public Library, and the Whimsical World Art Gallery in Portland, and the Maine Fiber Arts Center in Topsham, Maine.

Fryeburg Fair has supported fiber education for over 15 years and built a permanent fiber exhibition hall in 2004. The Fiber Center serves to educate the public about Fiber Arts featuring fiber art demonstrations throughout fair week. The Fiber Center features alternative gallery space to show fiber art like Ms Conner each year during fair week. This unique environment allows new eyes to see and understand the progression of natural fibers from function and craft to fiber art in a way that has never been possible in any other venue that we know of.

For more information about the Fryeburg Fiber Center and Ms. Conner’s Art please visit:

http://www.jconnerhookedrugs.com/
http://www.fryeburgfair.com/ and go to Exhibition Halls.
http://picasaweb.google.com/hairlockpaintings/FiberCenterSlideShow02  for a slide show of past events

The Fiber Center at fryeburg fair

By this time next month the 2010 Fyreburg fair will be gone by! Time sure flies when you;re having fun!

Here is our schedule of events. Lots to see so hope to see some of you there!

2010 SCHEDULE


Sunday, October 3rd

Fiber Animal of the Day 9-5p Angora Goats Front Porch Sue Bradbury

Dye Demo of the Day 9-5p Playing with Color Front Porch Betsey Leslie

Guest Artist Exhibit 9-9p Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibit upr & lower Gallery Janet Conner


 9-5p Rug Braiding Inside Janet Goodwin

9-9p Fleece & Fiber Sales Inside

9-9p Fiber Wall / Fiber Animal Educational Exhibit Outside Wall

9-9p Sample Mini Skeins Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Natural Dye Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Hairlock Painting ™ Exhibit Upper Rear Gallery Gale Bellew

9-9p Mixed Media & Felted Art Upper Rear Gallery J. Yarborough, E. Hedglin

9-9p Drum Carding Inside Karen Cornell

9-9p Spinning inside exhibitors

9-9p Tapestry Weaving Inside Linda Whiting

9-9p Hackle Blending & Spinning Inside Michelle Day

9-9p Needle Felting Inside J. Yarborough & R. McLellan

11-4p Fleece & Fiber Show Inside

10-12p Punch Hooking Inside Kim Kaslow

2-4pm Weaving on a floor loom Inside Kim Kaslow


Monday, October, 4th

Fiber Animal of the day 9-5p TBA Front Porch TBA

Dye Demo of the Day 9-5p Dyeing for fun & Color! Front Porch Betsey Lesllie

Guest Artist Exhibit 9-9p Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibit upr & lower Gallery Janet Conner


 9-5p Rug Braiding Inside Janet Goodwin

9-9p Fleece & Fiber Sales Inside

9-9p Fiber Wall / Fiber Animal Educational Exhibit Outside Wall

9-9p Sample Mini Skeins Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Natural Dye Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Hairlock Painting ™ Exhibit Upper Rear Gallery Gale Bellew

9-9p Mixed Media & Felted Art Upper Rear Gallery J. Yarborough, E. Hedglin

9-9p Carding with Karen Cornell Inside

9-9p Spinning Inside

9-9p Tapestry Weaving Inside Linda Whiting

9-9p Needle Felting inside J. Yarborough & R. McLellan

9-9p Hackle Blending & Spinning Inside Michelle Day



Tuesday, October 5th

Fiber Animal of the Day 9-5p Pygora Goats Front Porch Jen Smith

Dye Demo of the Day 9-5p Dyeing Wool Fibers & Yarns Porch Betsey Lesllie

Guest Artist Exhibit 9-9p Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibit upr & lower Gallery Janet Conner


 9-12p Drop Spindle Spinning Inside Joan Janness

9-5p Rug Braiding Inside Janet Goodwin

9-9p Fleece & Fiber Sales Inside

9-9p Fiber Wall / Fiber Animal Educational Exhibit Outside Wall

9-9p Sample Mini Skeins Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Natural Dye Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Hairlock Painting ™ Exhibit Upper Rear Gallery Gale Bellew

9-9p Mixed Media & Felted Art Upper Rear Gallery J. Yarborough, E. Hedglin

9-9p Carding with Karen Cornell Inside

9-9p Spinning Inside

9-9p Tapestry Weaving Inside Linda Whiting

9-9p Needle Felting inside J. Yarborough & R. McLellan

9-9p Hackle Blending & Spinning Inside Michelle Day



Wednesday, October 6th

Fiber Animal of the Day 9-5p Cashmere Goats Front Porch Jodie Richards

Dye Demo of the Day 9-6p Kool - Aid Dyeing Front Porch Kathy Cooper & Cecilia Vasquez

Guest Artist Exhibit 9-9p Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibit upr & lower Gallery Janet Conner


 9-5p Rug Braiding Inside Janet Goodwin

9-9p Fleece & Fiber Sales Inside

9-9p Fiber Wall / Fiber Animal Educational Exhibit Outside Wall

9-9p Sample Mini Skeins Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Natural Dye Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Hairlock Painting ™ Exhibit Upper Rear Gallery Gale Bellew

9-9p Mixed Media & Felted Art Upper Rear Gallery J. Yarborough, E. Hedglin

9-9p Carding with Karen Cornell Inside

9-9p Spinning Inside

9-9p Tapestry Weaving Inside Linda Whiting

9-9p Needle Felting inside J. Yarborough & R. McLellan

9-9p Hackle Blending & Drum Blending Inside Michelle Day & Sue Connolly

2-9p Rug Hooking with Scrap Woolens Inside Janet Conner

Thursday, October 7th

Fiber Animal of the Day 9-5p Pygora Goats Front Porch Jenni Smith

Dye Demo of the Day 9-5p Wool & The world of Color Front Porch Linda Whiting

Guest Artist Exhibit 9-9p Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibit upr & lower Gallery Janet Conner


 9-12p Drop Spindle Spinning Inside Joan Janness

9-2p Rug Braiding Inside Janet Goodwin

9-5p Fly Tyeing with Natural Fibers Inside Bill Thompson

9-5p Weaving on a Floor Loom Inside Mike Kozel

9-5p Blending on drum carder Inside Sue Connolly

9-9p Fleece & Fiber Sales Inside

9-9p Fiber Wall / Fiber Animal Educational Exhibit Outside Wall

9-9p Sample Mini Skeins Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Natural Dye Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Hairlock Painting ™ Exhibit Upper Rear Gallery Gale Bellew

9-9p Mixed Media & Felted Art Upper Rear Gallery J. Yarborough, E. Hedglin

9-9p Spinning inside exhibitors

9-9p Needle Felting inside J. Yarborough & R. McLellan

9-9p Carding Inside Karen Cornell

9-9p Rug Hooking Inside Janet Conner

2-9p Locker Hooking Inside Karen Thompson

5-9p Tapestry Weaving Inside Linda Whiting

Friday, October 8th

Fiber Animal of the Day 9-5p Finn Sheep Front Porch Mary Anne

Dye Demo of the Day 9-5p Natural Dyeing Front Porch Marty Elkin

Guest Artist Exhibit 9-9p Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibit upr & lower Gallery Janet Conner


9-5p Rug Braiding Inside Janet Goodwin

9-9p Fleece & Fiber Sales Inside

9-9p Fiber Wall / Fiber Animal Educational Exhibit Outside Wall

9-9p Sample Mini Skeins Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Natural Dye Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Hairlock Painting ™ Exhibit Upper Rear Gallery Gale Bellew

9-9p Mixed Media & Felted Art Upper Rear Gallery J. Yarborough, E. Hedglin

9-9p Spinning inside exhibitors

9-9p Needle Felting inside Julie Yarborough

9-9p Carding Inside Karen Cornell

9-9p Rug Hooking Inside Janet Conner

9-9p Off Loom Weaving Inside Val Sullivan

9-9p Penny Rugs Inside Jerry Wax

9-9p Tapestry Weaving Inside Linda Whiting



Saturday, October 9th

Fiber Animal of the Day 9-5p Finn Sheep Porch Mary Anne

Dye Demo of the Day 9-5p Natural Dyeing Front Porch Marty Elkin

Guest Artist Exhibit 9-9p Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibit upr & lower Gallery Janet Conner


 9-5p Locker hooking Inside karen Thompson

9-5p Rug Braiding Inside Janet Goodwin

9-9p Fleece & Fiber Sales Inside

9-9p Fiber Wall / Fiber Animal Educational Exhibit Outside Wall

9-9p Sample Mini Skeins Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Natural Dye Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Hairlock Painting ™ Exhibit Upper Rear Gallery Gale Bellew

9-9p Mixed Media & Felted Art Upper Rear Gallery J. Yarborough, E. Hedglin

9-9p Tapestry Inside Linda Whiting

9-9p Off Loom Weaving Inside Val Sullivan

9-9p Needle Felting inside Julie Yarborough

9-9p Penny Rugs Inside Jerry Wax

9-9p Rug Hooking Inside Janet Connor

9-9p Drum Carding Inside Karen Cornell

9-9p Spinning inside exhibitors


Sunday, Oct 10th

Fiber Animal of the Day 9-5p Finn Sheep Porch Mary Anne Mary Anne

Dye Demo of the Day 9-5p Natural Dyeing Front Porch Marty Elkin Marty Elkin

Guest Artist 9-9p Traditional Rug Hooking Exhibit upr & lower Gallery Janet Conner Janet Conner

Fleece Markdown Day! 9-6p SALE - Fleece Markdown Day! Inside

9-12p Drop Spindle Spinning Inside Joan Janness

9-6p Fleece & Fiber Sales Inside

9-9p Fiber Wall / Fiber Animal Educational Exhibit Outside Wall

9-6p Sample Mini Skeins Exhibit Fiber Area

9-9p Natural Dye Exhibit Fiber Area

9-6p Hairlock Painting ™ Exhibit Upper Rear Gallery Gale Bellew

9-6p Mixed Media & Felted Art Upper Rear Gallery J. Yarborough, E. Hedglin

9-6p Tapestry Inside Linda Whiting

9-6p Off Loom Weaving Inside Val Sullivan

9-6p Needle Felting inside Julie Yarborough

9-6p Rug Braiding Inside Janet Goodwin

9-6p Penny Rugs Inside Jerry Wax

9-6p Rug Hooking Inside Janet Connor

9-6p Drum Carding Inside Karen Cornell

9-6p Spinning inside exhibitors

9-6p Locker hooking Inside Karen Thompson