My interest in tapestry weaving was piqued when I spent a year in Mexico in the mid 1970s and visited an exhibition of contemporary tapestries at the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. They were large, they were colorful and they spoke to me. Upon my return to the United States (Seattle), I sought out instruction and through this journey eventually took a class at the Oregon School of Arts & Crafts with Ruth Tanenbaum. Ruth had been part of the San Francisco Tapestry Workshop and had just returned from a stage at the Manufacture des Gobelins in Paris. That year Ruth moved to New York City with the intention of opening a tapestry weaving studio. She asked me if I was interested in being part of the studio and I said yes. I moved to New York in 1982 and embarked on a nine month apprenticeship. Upon completion I began weaving tapestry full time for the studio. I also became the Education Director at the studio and took over the apprenticeship program, as well as offering short workshops in the studio and around the country and teaching at Parsons School of Design.
Scheuer Tapestry Studio
Being a studio weaver is an excellent opportunity to hone one’s weaving skills. In addition to being presented with a wide variety of imagery to execute, one must also meet deadlines and work with clients and designers. I wove the tapestries below in their entirety, or with other weavers from the Scheuer Tapestry Studio.
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top left to bottom right: Daylilies, 72″ x 96,” and detail. After the Rain, 49″ x 58,” and detail. Blue Lily, 49″ x 68,” and detail. The Jari River, 84″ x 48,” and detail. Turning Towards Ararat, 90″ x 54,” and detail. Boston Harbor, 48″ x 84,” and detail. Burlington, 48″ x 72,” and detail. Medieval Skyline, 39″ x 57.” Impressions: Smell, 60″ x 84.” All photos courtesy of Rudi Dundas.
Maine
In 1987 I moved to Maine and lived there for three years. I taught at the University of Maine, Orono and was lucky to receive a number of commissions during this time. I also continued to teach for the studio in New York but no longer wove on any studio pieces.
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top left to bottom right: Autumn Leaves, 40.5″ x 57,” and detail. Spanish Courtyard, 60″ x 120,” and detail, collection of the IBM Corporation. Maia, 65″ x 59,” and detail. Only a Gentle Rolling, 28″ x 52,” and detail. Sketchbook of Washington County, 39″ x 90,” and detail, collection of the State of Maine. The Visit, 44.5″ x 25.5,” and detail. Rags & Tatters, 59.5″ x 34.5,” and detail. Untitled, 25″ x 31,” and detail. An Open Invitation, 23″ x 19.”