Handweaving: A 20,000+ years old craft still vibrant and evolving in the 21st Century.
An exhibit and sale of handwoven items by members of the Handweavers Guild of the New River Valley. The exhibit and sale will run from Nov 4th through 30th during regular Left of Center Art Space hours, Thurs-Sat, 11:00-4:00pm.
Today’s handweavers rely on centuries old methods and materials to create beautiful and useful articles for home use, clothing, personal adornment and art pieces in much the same way as weavers have done for millennia.
Traditional fibers such as wool, linen, cotton and silk woven on looms not much different from those used in Colonial days are represented in many of the pieces in this exhibit, but exploration in weaving is now expanded to include new materials, new techniques and new technologies. Non-traditional materials such as man-made fibers, wire, plastic and found objects are used in several of the weavings. Many of the weavers use computer programs in the design process and some use computer assisted looms.
From an exquisite damask table runner, woven from a 16th Century Italian pattern on a draw loom, to the free-flowing create-it-as you weave saori scarves; from a woven bowl to placemats and table runners; from tapestries to objects d’art; from handwoven garments to a prizewinning woven bra, a very old craft finds new expressions in the works of 17 local artisan weavers.
The Handweavers Guild of the New River Valley started with a half-dozen weavers in the Blacksburg area who organized the Poverty Creek Handweavers in 1973. The group has grown to have about 80 members today, with weavers from ten counties joining our in-person meetings and workshops, and members from across the United States participating by zoom for meetings, presentations, and classes taught by professional weaving teachers. Our mission is education, and we welcome all who want to learn more about weaving.
Left of Center Art Space
24 Campbell Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24011
HOURS:
Mon - Wed:
Closed
Thurs - Fri:
11:00am to 4:00pm
Sat:
11:00am to 4:00pm
Sun:
Closed