Preserving the history of North America’s folk art.
We are honored to confirm , with the permission of Mary Sheppard Burton ( noted USA Rug hooking artist) and Leonard E. Feenan (distinguished ceramist) the forthcoming gift of a magnificent multi media production combining both ceramics and rug hooking and including the involvement of more than 20 rug hookers from both the United States and Canada.
The remarkable “NOAH’S ARK” hooked/sculpture and some 104 hooked replicas of the animals and humans that marched two by two on the biblical version has several exhibition appointments to keep in the United States before proceeding to Ontario for a further exhibit and then to its final resting place in a special gallery being planned especially as its permanent home in the new Hooked Rug Museum of North America. The attached two page brochure tells the complete story in more detail. HRMNA will be creating detailed interpretive panels in co-operation with the donors, paying due credit to these two amazing artists and their supporters.
Mary and Leonard have both been strong backers of the Hooked Rug Museum project and have kept in touch with officials by telephone and e-mail for several years, aiding with various aspects of research and providing various illustrations and historic data for mounting archival collections. Additional rare books from Mrs Burton’s personal fiber arts reference library have also been committed in this outstanding contribution to North America’s first Museum of Rug Hooking. The two donors hope to come to Nova Scotia for the exhibit unveiling.
While astounded with the generosity and enormity of the contribution Museum Founder Suzanne Conrod discussed the many details details of the three year long production effort with 87 year old Mary Sheppard Burton and the design efforts of ceramist Leonard Feenan. It’s enormity, some 70 inches in length, 36 in height and 30 inches in depth and weighing some 331 pounds, involved specialized supports to ensure its stability.
They paid special thanks to Barbara J. Barton whose “labor of love” involved assembling the hooked animals for the Ark. The complete package will be available for shipment from Ontario during the latter part of 2010
Check on the American Folklore Center , Library of Congress web site www.loc.gov./folklife/msburton/exhibit-rugs.html for a look at The Mary Sheppard Burton Collection where there are 11 links to commentaries written by the artist about her magnificent permanent collections . Some are as large as 45×69 inches and are very detailed. The Noah Ark’s exhibit itself will be a feature at Sauder Village ‘s traditional rug show in Ohio, August 16/21 in 2010.
Leonard Feenan’s web site www.hookedrugpatterns.com displays this well known artist’s skills not only in ceramics but in unique original rug hooking patterns, including at least one hooked by Mary Burton herself. .
The pair’s combined skills and devotion to rug hooking and its evolvement to a fine art level are epitomized in the contribution of the Noah’s Ark masterpiece to HRMNA’s permanent collection. For the Museum itself it is a huge step forward in its ongoing struggle with minimal financial support to b e able to show the complete evolvement of some two to three centuries of the crafts evolvement to fine art from a utilitarian purpose. to fine art status .
The Hooked Rug Museum itself is working toward opening a market place in 2010 and the Museum proper by 2011 if sufficient capital funding can be raised.
Contact- Suzanne Conrod, Founder, P.O. Box 556, Chester, N.S. B0J 1J0 or dornoc@eastlink.ca
Filed under: Collection News, Musuem News
