New Exhibition at the Farnsworth: Rug Hooking in Maine and Beyond

Rockland , Maine -- 09 April 2010

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Sheep Rug, Frost Design, wool on burlap, 23 ¼ x 38 ¾ inches, Private Collection.

(Courtesy of Farnsworth Art Museum)

On Saturday, May 1, the Farnsworth Art Museum, in Rockland, ME, will be opening a new exhibition entitled Rug Hooking in Maine and Beyond. The exhibition is being organized by guest curator Mildred Péladeau, author of Rug Hooking in Maine 1838-1940 and will be on display in the museum’s Crosman Gallery through December 2010. For a century, hooked rugs have been avidly sought by collectors of folk art, artists and connoisseurs excited by their vibrant patterns, color and originality. Born during the first half of the nineteenth century, the craft of rug hooking spread rapidly throughout the nation from its probable origins in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. The functional rug, made from scraps of fabric and yarn, became a unique expression of its maker as well as a decorative embellishment for the home. Approximately forty splendid examples of hooked rugs that include Waldoboro, Arts and Crafts, cottage industry and other types emerge from the past for a spectacular display in Rug Hooking in Maine and Beyond. This exhibition has been made possible through a grant from the Maine Humanities Council and individual donors. The primary media sponsor for Rug Hooking in Maine and Beyond is Maine Home + Design. In association with this exhibition, there will be gallery talks by Mildred Péladeau on June 9and July 28 at 1 p.m. A lecture by Paula Laverty on the Grenfell Mission rugs will take place in the museum auditorium on July 21, at 5:30 p.m.

About Farnsworth Art Museum:

Celebrating Maine’s Role in American Art, the Farnsworth Art Museum offers a nationally recognized collection of works from many of America’s greatest artists. With 20,000 square feet of gallery space and over 10,000 works in the collection, there is always something new on view at the Farnsworth. The museum houses the nation's second-largest collection of works by premier 20th-century sculptor Louise Nevelson. Its Wyeth Center exclusively features works of Andrew, N.C. and Jamie Wyeth. The Farnsworth's library is also housed in its Rockland, ME, campus. Two historic buildings, the Farnsworth Homestead and the Olson House, complete the museum complex.