EAST HARDWICK – “Painting with Wool,” the current exhibit at James Teuscher’s White Water Gallery in East Hardwick Village, features needle-felted paintings by Christine Foster and hooked wall hangings by Marie LaPré Grabon. This two-artist show will be on exhibit on Sundays through August 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at other times by appointment. An opening reception for the artists was held July 20 with music by Joseph Grabon.
photo by Cheryl Michaels
This show is Christine Foster’s first experience sharing her felted art with the general public. “The gallery opening,” she said, “was amazing with over 50 people. It’s a great example of neighbors supporting neighbors. We are so lucky to live in this community where we have respect for each other. It was a real feel-good experience.” Before this, Foster, who lives in Stannard, had never thought of selling her work, she explained.
LaPré Grabon is an award winning multi-media artist, who lives in Hardwick and is known throughout New England for her drawings, collages, acrylics and oil paintings. Inspired by taking an online course, offered by GRACE during the pandemic, she has recently focused on creating hooked wall hangings. LaPré Grabon, who said she loves texture, explained, “When I took this course in rug hooking, I immediately fell in love with the process, the materials and the creativity.”
photo by Cheryl Michaels
Foster also loves working with wool, having been a knitter, a weaver and a spinner. Because both artists draw inspiration from nature as well as from wool fabrics and yarns, they blended their works to create a cohesive and thoughtful exhibit combining texture, color and subject matter.
Both artists practice Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese form of exercise, and attend the local Tai Chi and Qi Gong classes sponsored by the Council on Aging. Foster’s work reflects her desire to interpret those movements into felted paintings. “Some of my paintings are focused on roots as a metaphor for being strong and grounded as well as opening up to the sky and possibilities.” In her piece, Moon Shadows, the movement of the tree is a reflection of her Tai Chi work. Noting that she is also inspired by the beautiful area we live in, Foster explained the piece shows ”the reflection of the moon, with no end to the depth.”
photo by Cheryl Michaels
LaPré Grabon may be a rug hooker but as she explained she “doesn’t hook rugs and her works are not traditional.” Working with a large embroidery hook, she creates her hooked wall hangings out of bulky wool yarn and fine strips of wool that are hooked and sewn onto a linen backing. To add color and texture, her more recent works include unusual materials such as velvet, banana silk from Australia and decorative quills made by rolling and sewing two strips of wool. Her love of texture and experimentation is clearly reflected in her work.
Most pieces in the exhibit are for sale. The prices depend on size and how long it took to create the piece.
