Saturday, July 23, 2016

Tapestries

Last week several members of the CT Surface Design Association were invited to the studio of Helena Hernmark, world famous tapestry weaver. Go to her website to read all about her. Her studio in Ridgefield, CT is set among eighteen acres of bucolic countryside. I had been to a lecture given by her last year and was anticipating seeing her studio. Well, it was breathtaking and my pictures don't do it justice.


One whole wall of her three story high studio is covered wth the big cubbies filled with yarn from floor to ceiling. Note the ladder that allows her to reach to top cubbies. It was impossible for my camera to see the while thing.



Another  view of part of the wall with two of her larger looms. Most of her work is done for site specific installations. You can see one of hers on her website that is over 41 feet long that was installed on a curved wall. Her pieces sell for the many, many thousands of dollars and seeing them up close and personal, I can see why.





Two of her work tables with selected yarns and a view of one of her smaller looms in the distance.




Most of her work is representational. This is a small work at the end of her studio. 



Another of her "smaller" works, small being may three feet by five feet.


A view through the screen at the rear door of the studio.



After spending about an hour and a half in the studio with her explaining how she works, showing us
some of her smaller pieces and answering many questions, she asked if we would like to see the house.Wow! An extra treat! She and her late husband were born in Sweden and the house is Swedish modern, lost of blond wood in floors and trim with large windows and skylights. A very beautiful, livable home. All the rooms had gorgeous rugs woven by her.

The tapestry above was made for their dining room, but now it resides above the well-worn and loved leather couch. Her late husband, Niels Different, was the designer of high end office chairs that are amazingly comfortable. She had several throughout the house and studio and we sampled quite a few.

It was a delightful afternoon that was very inspiring. Several of the women in the group are weavers. I am not, but it didn't keep me from appreciating what I saw.

3 comments:

Linda M said...

That wall of yarn is amazing! So is her work, what an inspiring visit you had.

Sarah said...

What an interesting post! The colours in her yarn are just gorgeous.

Kevan Lunney said...

thanks so much for sharing this! Her work is stunning! What a wonderful day!