CRAFT OF MAINE-Jan/Feb 2010

by Rebecca Falzano

The art of handmade rugs

Maiko III, 1995, cotton, 34” x 58” – Jutta Graf

 

 

 

The oldest known surviving rug—a beautiful Persian discovered preserved in an ice-filled tomb—dates back to the fifth century B.C.E. Its advanced weave suggests an evolved art with an even longer history. Centuries later, Maine artisans are crafting homemade rugs with meticulous attention to detail using a variety of methods: looping, knotting, hooking, weaving. Whatever the technique, each rug begins with inspiration and is tweaked by color and texture to produce a lasting work of functional art.

 

Jutta Graf

“I began to experiment with different rug-making techniques with the goal of taking traditional rag rug weaving to a more contemporary level. My materials were cotton sheets cut into strips. Frustrated by the limits of colors available, I started to dye the materials. A whole new world opened up. With a rainbow of color at hand I was able to create the painterly designs I envisioned. Each one of the hundreds of rugs I have woven over the years is a unique design. I love to work with gradations and unusual color combinations, giving the pieces a meditative quality.”

For more Jutta Graf: Handworks Gallery

Meditation III, 2000, cotton, 45” x 72” (right)

Sarch Hotchkiss

“My rugs begin with an inspiration: either a geometric motif or a tickle of color blend that I notice somewhere in my world. I graph out a design and then pick the fabrics. I study how the textures and colors relate, how the printed images make patterns. I tweak and blend until the colors speak to the geometric shapes and vice versa, until together they dance and sing. My hand-woven rugs combine the lively color-fields of rag rugs with the geometric possibilities of tapestry.”

For more Sara Hotchkiss:
sarahotchkiss.com

Hearts and Flowers, 2009, cotton fabric and cabled cotton warp, 38” x 64” (left)

 

Susanne Grosjean

“My goal is to make something beautiful, useful, and lasting. I enjoy the whole process, from the spinning and dyeing of the yarn to the last finishing knot.”

For more Susanne Grosjean: Hog Bay Pottery

Tibetan Apron Rug, 2009, handspun wool dyed with indigo, weld, and goldenrod, 8’ x 6’ (right)

 

 

 

 

Jo Ellen Stammen

“I love to bring light and color into people’s homes. Working as an artist and illustrator for years I thought art had to look or be a certain way, especially because I was so busy meeting deadlines and illustrating the ideas of others. I was also busy being a full-time mom. When my youngest went off to college, I began to explore and expand, finally returning to an original love for interior design and decorative art. Rugs became my new canvas and a way for me to combine my narrative sensibility, a desire to go big, and a heart to create a more affordable, functional form of art.”  

For more Jo Ellen Stammen:
joellendesigns.com

Fox & Vine Blue, 2007, 100% hand-hooked wool, 5’ x 8’ (also available in 8’ x 11’) (left)

 

Tim Van Campen

I like to think of my art as a meditative blending of textures and architectural themes into a tranquility of color and design. The carpets are decorative but not without sophistication. Most of the work’s inspiration is derived from nature, the beauty and ever-changing weather of Maine; from fireflies to icy riverbanks, the enjoyment of the landscape is a visual treat that stimulates my creative energy.”

For more Tim Van Campen: vancampen.net

Hand-Stitched Needlepoint, 1991, wool, 10’ x 14’ (right)