Tapestry Weavers South Gather in Florida

and ATA Award Winner, Pat Williams

by Lynn Mayne

From October 21 to 23, 2004, the four member Tapestry Artists of Sarasota (TAOS) hosted fourteen members of Tapestry Weavers South in Sarasota, Florida for three exciting days that included a Sharon Marcus workshop, our local tapestry exhibitions, and a tour of the Ringling Museum. Francoise Hack, assistant curator, lead the tour of five 13’ x 16’ cartoons painted in oil by Rubens in about 1625 for his largest and most complex tapestry cycle, “The Triumph of the Eucharist.” She also took the group through the recently restored mansion of John and Mable Ringling with special access to some 17th and l8th Century tapestries that are normally off-limits to the public.

The Sharon Marcus tapestry design workshop: “The Relationship of Structure and Technique to Idea,” involved each participant’s mind and hands for the next two days. Sharon was inspiring and supportive in attempting to push us to experiment and question.

Following the feedback session at the end of the first workshop day, we traveled north to the neighboring community of Bradenton. There at the Art Center Manatee, we viewed “Image and Allegory” by TAOS (31 tapestries by 4 artists), and “Art in Fiber 2004” by TWS (33 tapestries by 18 artists) Sharon Marcus presented the ATA award to Patricia Williams for her tapestry Orion, [commenting] that she especially liked the use of mixed materials, the movement of the figure, and the ambiguity of the situation portrayed. Patricia talked about her piece and other exhibitors were encouraged to talk about their work too.

above, Pat Williams, Orion, 30" x 50", 2004

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