An exhibit of 15 tapestries by Wilson artist Mary-Alice Huemoeller will be on display at the Wyoming State Museum, January 26 through March 7.
A reception and program by Huemoeller will be held Feb. 12, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the State Museum’s Multi-Purpose Room.
Huemoeller’s weaving reflects her personal vision of life. Her ideas and messages are conveyed through a vocabulary of symbols, both standard and individually invented, which are integral to her designs.
Huemoeller’s works recall Native-American imagery and cave paintings by ancient peoples, both made with a similar intent. Her woven compositions speak to the sacred and are a sharing of the artist’s spirit and that of mankind.
Her art intends to celebrate life’s experiences and to evoke a response in those who come into contact with it. As a nurse, Huemoeller is interested in the healing process and how she can express this regeneration and nurturing of one’s self and the unity of people.
Huemoeller has studied weaving at Penland School in North Carolina, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine and the Mendocino Art Center in California. She has drawn upon the weaving traditions of the Guatemalan, Thai, Laotian and Native American peoples to give her inspiration for her own work, particularly the notion of weaving symbols into their clothing to inform others of their identity.
The Southeast Asian technique ikat, in which the thread is partially painted before woven to create a distinctive pattern, is incorporated into Huemoeller’s woven art . She utilizes warp painting, embroidery and brocade to create diverse visual and textural experiences for the viewer.
The Wyoming State Museum is located in the Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne. For information about this exhibit or State Museum programs, please call 777-7022.
