Art-to-Art Palette Journal

Hooked rugs and quilts featured

“Family Barns” (detail), rug designed and hooked by Altha Brooks.

From Hope Wallace    

     By now I hope that many of you have visited the Wassenberg Art Center’s “Art of Fiber” exhibit.  This is a popular show and has attracted people from all around the Van Wert area and beyond.

     The display includes quilts from the collection of Barb Pemberton and hooked rugs by members of the Black Swamp Rug Hookers.  This week I’d like to give you some information about the rugs.  Actually, there are more than rugs on display; the rug hooking group also makes felted purses, needlepunch work, chair covers, and more. 

Hope Wallace

     Many of the rugs on display were designed by their makers.  “Family Barns” by Altha Brooks is a good example.  The rug features the barns her family grew up with:  a gambrel roof barn in Putnam County from her father-in-law’s farm; a three level bank barn near Columbus on the farm where Altha was raised; a bank barn near Bluffton on the farm where her husband grew up, and the bank barn on the farm where Altha’s mother-in-law was raised, near Bluffton.

     Several of the rugs in this display have this kind of personal connection to their makers. Much of the charm of hooked rugs comes from the colors chosen by the artists which range from muted, earthy tones to bright colors.  The pictures on the rugs are charming — some rugs have folk art themes, others, like the “Family Barns” rug, depict realistic objects or scenes. 

     The exhibit continues through February 25, 1-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays), and admission is free.  The show is sponsored by 1st Federal Savings & Loan and Stephanie Dawn.

     The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 S. Washington Street in Van Wert, Ohio.  Contact us by phone at 419.238.6837 or e-mail wassenberg@embarqmail.com.  Information about coming events can be found on our website at www.vanwert.com/wassenberg.

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