"From Sheep to Shawl" exhibit opens Jan. 10

MORRIS - A new exhibit highlighting fiber arts will open at the Stevens County Museum next Thursday, Jan. 10 and run through Thursday, Feb. 28.

An opening reception for "From Sheep to Shawl" is sheduled for Jan. 10 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

For the exhibit, four artists, Joan Jarvis Ellison, Sharon Marquardt, Karen Aakre and Katy J. Olson have created over 24 artistic pieces using wool, for techniques and patterns historical, ethnic as well as contemporary in design. The exhibit will showcase weaving, spinning, felting, sculpting, dyeing as well as a historic technique called shinnfeller (also known as skinnfeller in Norway.)

This technique involves beautifully tanned sheepskins with long curly locks of wool on one side and elegant patterns printed on the skin side. Designs printed were derived from five design groups - sun, water, plants, animals and the heart - and pressed into the surface of the skin with inked printing blocks carved from birch.

This exhibit will include a demonstration from the artists at the opening reception and a possible workshop to learn simple or advanced felting, dyeing, beginning knitting or weaving or shinfeller during the installation weeks of the exhibit.

You can also learn more by visiting the museum's Stevens County History Museum Facebook page or their website at www.stevenshistorymuseum.com.