If you haven’t yet visited the exhibit, “Interwoven,” at Arthurdale Heritage, you must make time to see it. If you have, consider a return visit. This exhibit is a treasure trove worth exploring — both because of the objects on display and the care that went into exhibiting them.
“Interwoven” documents the fiber arts legacy of the Arthurdale homestead community.
The exhibit is part of a larger concept. “About a year ago we were thinking about how we could expand our fiber arts programming,” said Elizabeth Satterfield, curator and education director at Arthurdale Heritage.
After attending the exhibit’s opening reception at the beginning of last month, I went back and met Elizabeth for a chance to talk more about the displayed pieces and their history.
When you enter the exhibit, the first thing you see at the entrance is a large abstract tapestry piece with the exhibit title worked into the design.
Elizabeth said she and fellow Arthurdale Heritage staff created the tapestry piece themselves using recycled and upcycled materials. She said this kept in spirit with the homesteaders who made the historical pieces in the exhibit — they worked with what they had — a lot of what we would consider upcycling.
Proceeding through the exhibit you will come to “touch tables.” The first is filled with fiber — including some flax plants and finished linen to show what this fiber looks like before processing.
Signs on the display explain about different fibers and invite you to feel them all.
The next touch table has tools used in the process of turning raw fiber into yarn.
Passing these tables you will see spinning wheels — one of which is documented as used by Arthurdale homesteaders.
The exhibit includes a couple of looms, along with vignettes of items woven by original homesteaders and their descendants. The Mayor family were particularly prolific weavers — Annabelle (who married into the family) and Dorothy wove many of the pieces in the exhibit. The men in the Mayor family were carpenters, and one ended up making looms — Elizabeth estimated he made at least a dozen.
The four vignettes highlight the art and utility of fiber arts in Arthurdale. One shows a clothesline scene, another a bedroom and the last a dining table and a living room. “We tried to be creative with it, and think about how people would have used the items.”
From samplers to dresses to rugs — each piece is exceptional in design, execution and mindfulness evident in details, like handmade buttons — all adding up to an astounding artistic sensibility. The exhibit includes a quote from Annabelle Mayor: “We put our hearts into it and made beautiful things.”
Looking at the exhibit you can also see the respect and care for the items and legacy taken when displaying this exhibit.
“My favorite part of working on it was digging through our archives,” Elizabeth said. Putting together this exhibit gave her the chance to look through all the fiber work preserved at Arthurdale Heritage.
In addition to the Interwoven display, this year the non-profit offered 14 fiber arts classes including a series of weaving classes and children’s classes. The center also hosts the newly formed Preston County Fiber Guild meetings in the loom room, where community members can rent looms to create their own projects.
Classes for adults and children will continue into the new year. Elizabeth said they plan to offer classes for making useful items such as guitar straps, belts, tea towels, etc.
“We want people to know this isn’t something just in the past. It’s still happening today.”
ALDONA BIRD is a journalist, previously writing for The Dominion Post. She uses experience gained working on organic farms in Europe to help her explore possibilities of local productivity and sustainable living in Preston County. Email columns@dominionpost.com
