Last day of the 8th Triennial. Excellent coordination by board, wonderful friendships formed by 182 members, more workshops, lecture about Emily Carr the rughooker/treasured artist, fibre demonstrations.
The Gala Dinner with featured speaker Robert Bateman whose message was “be authentic to yourself.. break the stereotype” and the Founder’s Cup was awarded to Susan Feller.
The triennial continues with more workshops, a panel discussion “Approaching a Design”, luncheon speaker Vancouver textile artist Michelle Sirois-Silver, General Meeting, evening lecture “Colour” by Gene Shepherd, rug exhibit take down.
Acceptance of new board headed by Heather Ritchie, based in the United Kingdom. The theme for 2016-2018 is “Returning to our Roots”.
Afternoon wanderings, dine out, develop friendships and plan for Day 4.
Breakfast for all was delightful, off we went to workshops, excursions including a private viewing of select Emily Carr rugs and twined pieces and the Robert Bateman Gallery , panel discussions (videoed for our archives), lunch together and more of the same variety of fibre/art experiences for the afternoon.
The rug display opened in the early evening to members and invited guests in the region including Jan Ross from the Emily Carr House, dinner was on our own with new friends.
This day ended with a presentation by Sylvia Olsen: the Coast Salish Legacy including knitted sweaters and historical images as she wove the story of handwork supporting families.
TIGHR members’ work were reviewed to create the new gallery theme PORTRAITS at TIGHR.net/gallery Countries represented include Australia, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom and United States. Juror Lori LaBerge describes the process in her statement:
“The jurying process can be an intimidating one. The reason I enjoyed jurying the TIGHR Gallery page is that it was a different procedure than usual. Whereas artists usually apply to have their work juried and shown, this procedure was based on my looking at all art photos on the TIGHR site. The process did away with artists having to worry about entry procedures, professional photo costs, jurying fees, and possible letters of refusal, yet allows their work to be part of the jurying process.
In choosing work for “The Portrait” I looked at skill, composition, creativity and how the artist communicated a sense of emotion for the viewer to experience. A further goal was to include a variety of work. I wanted to include artists who portrayed the portrait both traditionally and in a non-traditional fashion. The reason for this was to show the public the various ways the portrait can be presented as well as inspire artists to think differently about how they could portray the portrait in their own work.
I looked at whether a piece drew my eye to it or not. A clear intention for the creation of the work was taken into consideration. Did the work lead me to think about what the artist was trying to say? In creating a portrait, the eyes are everything. Are they expressing or hiding emotion? Could an abstract piece still convey expression? Could I look into the eyes and feel something?
Thank you to all of the artists who display their work on the TIGHR members site. There is a vast amount of talent within the group. We all learn from each other. TIGHR is a great venue to allow rug hooking artists to interact with and learn from others while introducing rug hooking as art to the public. “
Thank you,
Lori LaBerge
Lori has juried work for entry to gallery sales and shows. She has had her own work juried and chosen by university professors and curators of The Textile Museum, The Racine Art Museum, The American Folk Art Museum, The Turchin Center and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Her work and process can be viewed at LoriLaBerge.com
Exhibitors (names highlighted, link to websites) Anne Boissinot, Canada; Diane Louise Cox, UK; Susan L. Feller, USA; Val Flannigan, Canada; Peg Irish, USA; Diane Learmonth, USA; Rachelle LeBlanc, Canada; Laura Pierce, USA; Heather Ritchie, UK; Amanda Rosser, Spain; Sunny Runnels, Canada; Judi Tompkins, Australia; Dianne Warren, Canada; Molly White, Canada;
Registration begins this Thursday, January 8, 2015 for the 8th Triennial of TIGHR to be held in Victoria, BC October 4-7. The Triennial will be upon us before you know it. Excited? Looking forward to face-to-face meeting with your online friends? Register beginning January 8.
Visit 2015 Victoria, BC the Triennial main page for links to panel and workshop descriptions, 8th Triennial Registration Form and a full schedule of events to prepare your paperwork.
For those who can write a check in Canadian dollars or acquire a bank draft in Canadian funds complete the registration form and submit your payment and form with a postmark beginning JANUARY 8.
IF you will be paying using the online options of a Credit Card or PayPal account the payment process opens on January 30. BUT you are encouraged to still fill out the form with your choices of workshops (up to three), and any of the panels and/or excursions you are interested in and MAIL IT IN beginning January 8 also. Circle the $400 member’s fee (and guest fee if applicable) and indicate on your form you will be paying online as of January 30.
The postmarks will be used to prioritize assignments of workshops. You will be emailed when your form is received.
Questions, email the Registrar, Sheila Mitchell at tighr.victoria@gmail.com
The November/December issue of Rug Hooking Magazine includes several articles by TIGHR members. See excerpts of these along the left sidebar of their home page www.RugHookingMagazine.com
Ask the Experts…. Shirley I. Bradshaw, Nova Scotia diagrams the elegant finishing technique of a herringbone whipped edge.
Advertisement on page 9 for TIGHR promotes the Triennial, speakers, and joining the organization to “Connect with other rug hookers from around the globe.”
Australian Connection… Josephine Franco, West Australia describes the garment designed with 100% recycled materials and hooked by a local group as entry to Common Threads Wearable Competition. The piece evokes the ‘Ebb and Flow’ of the sea and was selected as a finalist.
Camps and Workshops…. features an article by Susan L. Feller celebrating TIGHR’s 20 year history.
Rose Wirtz… written by Linda Rae Coughlin, New Jersey, USA is inspired by nature in her designing and colorings. She exclusively uses natural materials to create a subtle palette. Rose was a presenter during the Louisville 2009 Triennial. Her description of natural dyes can be found on our private site under Education.
Working it Out… Donna Lees Bleam, Virginia USA writes about finding a four panel Oriental pattern and challenging herself to complete it. Then working with a local carpenter to create a screen.
It is countdown time this week anticipating December 4 and International Hook-In Day. We have listed many plans on our special Calendar page Dec 4 Hook-In and you can read about some of the events in the November 22 blog entry at www.RugHookingMagazine.com/blog
As noted on the blog, there is a way you can participate in promoting an event. People are encouraged to post directly to Rug Hooking Magazine’s Facebook page on Dec 4 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rug-Hooking-Magazine/276410345770221
The page will be monitored by staff. Approvals of posts throughout the 24 hour period from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom then across the Atlantic to the Canadian provinces and United States will appear chronologically.
If you are not near a fibre friend to talk face-to-face, call them, Skype, or sit-down and write a note. The world is looking forward to the many creative mats, rugs, artwork, jewelry, purses, clothing, and objects we create with our craft traditions.
Twenty years ago on December 4, 1994 the formation of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) was proclaimed in England. In celebration of this anniversary and to further our mission statement “come together in friendship to share ideas, and to explore the different techniques of the art of rugmaking using a variety of fibres” we have declared DECEMBER 4, 2014 as the International Hook-In Day.
Let’s spread the word to fellow rugmakers and plan a local event to publicize our traditions in the 21st Century. Comment below on your plans. Create a display at a local library and demonstrate at a community center. Take your project to work for lunch break, bring a mat to be whipped while watching your child play a game after school, go out to tea with a friend and talk about a new project.
Rug Hooking Magazine will be featuring this event during November on their blog and on Facebook December 4. We are looking for people to post images from Sydney, Australia across that continent to Perth on to Tokyo, Japan to the United Kingdom and Spain then across the Atlantic to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, the Eastern United States all the way to California and Victoria, British Columbia the site of our 8th Triennial October 4, 2015.
Comment below if you are willing to upload an image on December 4 or before.
September brings changes in family routines. The rughooking community is gearing up too with exhibits, celebrations, shows, and gatherings around the world. Check out our Calendar on TIGHR.NET
Australia will be entering Spring on September 5 celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Narrawilly Proggy Rugmakers with a tea and reunion at the Rug Room in Milton, NSW.
The Strathalbyn RugHooking EXPO October 11-12 will be the third time workshops and exhibits fill the town in South Australia.
The United Kingdom can be a destination all Fall with the Knitting and Stitching Shows popping up around the Kingdom. The largest is October 8-12 in Alexandra Palace, London where Jenni Stuart-Anderson will demonstrate rag rugging, recycling into mats.
Wool Festivals are in a variety of communities in Great Britian, Cilla Cameron can be found at a few and co-coordinating the Reeth Retreat with Heather Ritchie in the Yorkshires mid September.
In the United States October 15- 18 Hooked in the Mountains, Essex Junction Fairgrounds, Vermont exhibits hundreds of hooked art pieces, special features of Rachelle LeBlanc and Peg Irish’s work
October 25- November 29 Hooked Art 2014 at The Gallery, UConn, Stamford, CT will be the largest collection of contemporary hooked art curated by Liz Alpert Fay and sponsored by Newtown Hooked Art Shows 
October 24-30 24th Annual Rug Hooking Exhibit, Chinzanso Hotel, Tokyo, Japan coordinated by Fumiyo Hachisuka
Culminating the excitement is December 4 The International Hook-In Day celebrating TIGHR’s 20th Anniversary. Call up a fellow fiber friend and go out for lunch, tea or a chat with your rughooking. Demonstrate at a local library or community center. Set up an exhibit of hooked work in a gallery. Promote rug making around the world. Use our site for background information and links. TIGHR.NET
It is not too early to make financial and calendar plans for the 8th Tri-Ennial of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers to be held October 4-7, 2015 in Victoria, BC Canada.
Rug hooking Canadians in all provinces hold exhibits, guild meetings, and workshops search Canadian Rug Hooking.
The Gallery, UConn, 1 University Place, Stamford, CT will be the site of an exciting collection of fiber art with hooking as one of many techniques. Coordinated by Newtown Hooked Art Shows and curated by Liz Alpert Fay the opening reception is Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 1-4 pm. Click the link for The Gallery to find directions and hours. If unable to attend and meet the artists who will speak about their process, the show is up through November 29, 2014.
The following 18 artists contributed fifty-five pieces- (TIGHR members are in GREEN with sites hot linked)
Liz Alpert Fay, CT LizAlpertFay.com Mary Jane Andreozzi, RI MJAndreozzi.com Marilyn Bottjer, NY Molly Colegrove, NY Linda Rae Coughlin, NJ TheArtRugs.com Gail Dufresne, NJ GoatHillDesigns.com Susan L. Feller, Augusta, WV ArtWools.com Leslie Giuliani, CT LeslieGiuliani.com Tracy Jamar, NY TracyJamar.com Beth Kempf, CT HappyRugHooker.com Lori LaBerge, NC LoriLaberge.com Rachelle LeBlanc, AB, Canada RachelleLeBlanc.com Lara Magruder, CA LaraMagruder.com June M. Myles, Elkins, WV Constance D. Old, CT ConstanceOld.com Alice Rudell, NY Michelle Sirois-Silver, BC, Canada MichelleSirois-Silver.com Missy Stevens, CT MissyStevens.com
Here is a preview of the show from our TIGHR participants.
