Tweed Museum of Art : Finnish Textiles: Tradition and Innovation

Honoring Tradition:

Finnish and Sami-inspired Textiles

In conjunction with FinnFest 2008

July 15, 2008 – October 5, 2008

This exhibition springs from a rich tradition, still very much alive in our region, of handmade textiles by artisans who honor and are inspired by Finnish and Sami techniques and designs. Gathering together seventeen textile artists from the upper Midwest and Canada, the exhibition allows viewers to compare and contrast woven rugs, wall hangings, felted works, lace, and clothing design. Each work was selected for elegance of design as well as adherence to traditional forms and techniques, underscoring the importance of simplicity, clear design, and high levels of craft found in Nordic design.

Many of the works in the exhibition are variants on traditional functional textiles made centuries ago by Finnish and Sami people. Ryijy rugs, for example, are now viewed as decorative wall hangings, but were once used as protective blankets for fishermen who slept overnight in their boats. Contemporary raanu weavings are wall hung artworks which usually interpret aspects of nature and the seasons, but they had their start as coverings on the traditional tent-like dwellings of the Sami (native Finnish) people.

Contemporary artists included in the exhibition are:

Mary Erickson (Mt. Iron, MN); Paivi Homola (Eveleth, MN); Delores Johnson, lent by Gerry Kangas; Irene Johnson (Ely, MN); Susan Johnson (Viroqua, WI); Laurie Jacobi (Minneapolis, MN); Janelle Kallio (Chisholm, MN); Susan Saari Karasti (Ely, MN), lent by Aurora Public Library; Edythe Karlstrand (Eveleth, MN); Pirkko Karvonen (Edmonton, Alberta); Karen Kiviluoma (Makinen, MN); Ruth Koski (MN); Karen Lamppa (Britt, MN); Annika Martilla (Frederick, SD); Wynne Mattila (Minneapolis, MN); Mel Olson; Bill Schaffer (Hibbing, MN); Joyce Seppala (Thunder Bay, Ontario); Carol Sperling (Eveleth, MN); and Mary Wovcha (Duluth, MN).

Please visit the FinnFest 08 website for more information.


Honoring Tradition: *Finnish and Sami-inspired Textiles* *In conjunction with FinnFest 2008* July 15, 2008 – October 5, 2008 This exhibition springs from a rich tradition, still very much alive in our region, of handmade textiles by artisans who honor and are inspired by Finnish and Sami techniques and designs. Gathering together seventeen textile artists from the upper Midwest and Canada, the exhibition allows viewers to compare and contrast woven rugs, wall hangings, felted works, lace, and clothing design. Each work was selected for elegance of design as well as adherence to traditional forms and techniques, underscoring the importance of simplicity, clear design, and high levels of craft found in Nordic design. Many of the works in the exhibition are variants on traditional functional textiles made centuries ago by Finnish and Sami people. Ryijy rugs, for example, are now viewed as decorative wall hangings, but were once used as protective blankets for fishermen who slept overnight in their boats. Contemporary raanu weavings are wall hung artworks which usually interpret aspects of nature and the seasons, but they had their start as coverings on the traditional tent-like dwellings of the Sami (native Finnish) people. Contemporary artists included in the exhibition are: Mary Erickson (Mt. Iron, MN); Paivi Homola (Eveleth, MN); Delores Johnson, lent by Gerry Kangas; Irene Johnson (Ely, MN); Susan Johnson (Viroqua, WI); Laurie Jacobi (Minneapolis, MN); Janelle Kallio (Chisholm, MN); Susan Saari Karasti (Ely, MN), lent by Aurora Public Library; Edythe Karlstrand (Eveleth, MN); Pirkko Karvonen (Edmonton, Alberta); Karen Kiviluoma (Makinen, MN); Ruth Koski (MN); Karen Lamppa (Britt, MN); Annika Martilla (Frederick, SD); Wynne Mattila (Minneapolis, MN); Mel Olson; Bill Schaffer (Hibbing, MN); Joyce Seppala (Thunder Bay, Ontario); Carol Sperling (Eveleth, MN); and Mary Wovcha (Duluth, MN). Please visit the FinnFest 08 website for more information. Wynne Matila