Wyoming Arts Council

Fiber arts exhibits at NHTIC in Casper through April

Featured News | March 3, 2014

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From the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper:

The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (NHTIC) is recognizing Women’s History Month with two temporary exhibits: “Plain and Fancy: Art of the Needle” and “Women of Courage” quilt.

The exhibits run through April.

“Plain and Fancy: Art of the Needle” was coordinated by the Casper Needle Guild, and curated by Sue Blakey, director of the Wyoming Fiber Trails Project, and Alex Rose, interpreter at the NHTIC.  The exhibit includes 55 pieces representing needlework techniques.  “Plain and Fancy” celebrates the 40 ^th anniversary of the Casper Needle Guild, established in 1974.

“The exhibit is a modern connection to our pioneer past,” Rose said. “The diversity of needlework represented in this exhibit is extraordinary.”

The exhibit shows traditional and contemporary pieces representing a variety of needlework techniques, including Norwegian hardanger, Brazilian embroidery and Rozashi Japanese needlepoint.

“If there is a symbol of women throughout the centuries of pre-recorded and recorded history, it is the needle,” Blakey said. “When families appear, so does the needle.”

The exhibit includes a Kid’s Corner, where children can learn how to create their own designs with basic stitching.

The “Women of Courage” quilt recognizes 15 women who made their mark on world history.  Each block design corresponds with a heroine.  Some of the women are prominently featured in history, such as Sojourner Truth and Helen Keller.  Others are less well known: Examples include Bessie Coleman, first African-American female pilot, and Nancy Wake, a member of the French Resistance during World War II.

The exhibit includes photographs and biographies of each courageous woman.  “The quilt was designed to honor women throughout history that led courageous lives,” Rose said.

The quilt was designed by Denise Lipscomb of Waxahachie, Texas, and created by award winning quilter and quilting instructor Pam Elliot of Prism Quilt and Sew in Casper.

For more information contact the NHTIC, (307) 261-7780.

The Casper Needle Guild is a chapter of the Embroiders’ Guild of America, and is open to all who are interested in learning various stitching techniques, especially using a needle with an eye.  The Casper Needle Guild is the only EGA chapter in Wyoming.  For more information call 307-577-1148 or visit www.rmrega.org .

The Wyoming Fiber Trails Project is an on-line resource that promotes the fiber arts.  For more information, visit www.wyomingfibertrails.org 

On the home page: “Flower Sampler” by Ann Hudson

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