Maine Fiber Artist Jan Winsor is known for her life
like renditions of animals, using wool to create sculptures and paintings. Ms.
Winsor’s new collection will be the featured Guest Artist Exhibit at The Fiber
Center, during the 2014 Fryeburg Fair. The
Exhibition is open from Sunday September 28th to Saturday October 4th,
9am to 9pm daily
JAN WINSOR ARTIST STATEMENT
Animal Magnetism - An
exhibition of needle felted works celebrating animals and their magnificent
spirits.
Animals have always been my favorite subject matter for all
mediums. Creating pictures and
sculptures with fiber is especially rewarding to me because the animals I love
become part of my artwork. I have my own
flock of sheep and enjoy the peaceful energy that being around them provides
for me.
Animal Magnetism seemed like the perfect title for my
exhibit since I’m drawn like a magnet to animals. I did some research and discovered the term
animal magnetism was used in the 18th century by Franz Mesmer. It was his belief that all animals are
surrounded by an invisible energy field.
He believed this energy force could have physical effects including
healing.
Many cultures in both ancient and modern times believe in
life force energy or energy fields that surround all animals and humans. They also believe that those energy fields can
be tapped into as a form of alternative medicine.
Interests in Native American culture lead me to discover
animal totems. The traditional belief is
each individual is connected with nine different animals who act as guides
throughout your life. The animal guides
will come and go as needed but there is one main spirit guide animal that stays
with you and offers power and wisdom when communicated with. Insight can be gained when the
characteristics of your totem animal are observed. A totem itself refers to many types of items
that are a symbol representing that animal.
The needle felted wool paintings in this exhibit are titled
with a characteristic or power displayed by the animal that could be focused on
for spirit guidance.
About
I grew up in Natick, Massachusetts always having a love for
animals and art.
I studied education and art in Massachusetts and received a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Art from Framingham
State College and an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Massachusetts Bay
Community College.
As a child every summer was spent with my family at Sebago
Lake so I was thrilled when my husband’s career brought us and our two children
to live in Maine full time.
I began teaching at an elementary school in 1999. There I met two women, Janet Conner and Karen
Smith who introduced me to fiber arts.
After exploring this art form, I found it was perfect for me. It combines art, animals and teaching in one
endeavor! By 2002 I had my first
sheep.
I currently live on a small farm in Gorham, Maine with my
husband, 16 sheep, 2 dogs and 3 cats. With
the last name of Winsor and since we are a family of four we named our farm
Four Winds Farm.
