The Fiber Center

MAINE FIBER ARTIST JAN WINSOR TO EXHIBIT HER WORK AS THE FIBER CENTER GUEST ARTIST 2014

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 28thto Saturday October 4^th, 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 18^th 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.

Fiber Center 2014 Schedule has been published

The 2014 Fiber Center is looking to be another stellar year of non stop activity!

Check out the schedule page to find your favorite event and join us during fair week from September 28th to October 5th.

Hope to see you there!

Maine Mitten Project Count Rising!

The Maine Mitten Project got under way last fall and was promoted during Fryeburg Fair week in 2012. We've nearly come full circle for our first year and some of our collection results are in.

Our Mailed in donations from various donors including folks who heard of us through Rivalry.com and Artful Giving.com, and items collected at the Heart of Biddeford, Rangely Libabry, and Scarborough Library have totaled 525 items!

I can happily report that from the Heart of Biddeford donor location we have collected 146 pieces with more than half of those donations coming from Suzy Mullen. Way to go Suzy!

With a few other collection locations still to account for including our huge supporter Close Knit Sister's Yarn Shop in N Conway, NH, I fully expect to reach our goal of 1000 pieces!

After the fair is ended I will complete a final report which I will post including acknowledgment of all donors.

YOU ARE ALL AWESOME and we thank you SO VERY MUCH!

The Fiber Center at Fryeburg Fair - 2013

The 2013 Fiber Center Schedule is now available. As always we have LOTS going on and something for everyone to enjoy!

click on the schedule tab at the top of the blog

This year you are getting a 2nd chance to see the Maine Crochet Reef Project which last year was a huge success! With more than 900 pieces created by more than 150 people it seemed well worth showing one more time before it comes down.

Whatever you do BE SURE TO LOOK UP when you enter The Fiber Center or you will miss some amazing stuff!

In addition to the Maine Reef Exhibition we will be featuring our collection of hand made hats mittens and scarves donated to the Maine Mitten Project. A project encouraging Kind Souls to make Mittens, Hats, and Scarves to benefit Maine's homeless.

This community project was more successful that I could have imagined and so we will be repeating it as our 2014 community project. Please visit the Maine Mitten Project blog or see us at teh Fiber Center during fair week for more information, free patterns, and to learn how you can participate next year!

If you have some hand-mades that you would like to donate for this year's distribution, you can bring them to The Fiber Center during fair week.

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

The Fiber Center's Maine Crochet Reef Project Receives Award

Fryeburg Fair President accepting the Award

Each year the Maine Agricultural Fair Association presents the 'Outstanding Large Fair Award' and this year it went to Fyeburg Fairs' Fiber Center for "their unique Coral Reef Exhibit".

WOOHOOOO!!!!

Fryeburg Fair President Roy Andrews accepted the award on our behalf and called me with the news. Needless to say I was thrilled to hear that all of the time and effort that the 150 plus people put into creating the more than 900 pieces that make up the reef have been recognized for all of the hard work!.

Mr. Andrews remarked that this is a prestigious award and one to be proud of. He thanked us for our efforts and job well done adding that some important people in the Maine Agricultural scene took notice of what we had done!

It should be noted that Roy Andrews deserves credit for having the foresight long ago that Fiber is an integral part of Maine agricultural and should be properly represented at Maine's largest agricultural fair. It is because of him that we enjoy the largest Fiber specific exhibition hall in New England!

THANK YOU ROY, for believing in us and supporting us all along the way. This award would not have been possible without your confidence and support, for building our Fiber Center all those years ago, and the continued support from the fair which made creating the Maine Reef possible.

If you missed the Maine Reef Exhibition at the fair last year, fear not! It will be on exhibit through this year's fair from September 29 - October 6, 2013.

Maine & Northern New England Fiber Arts Event Calendar 2013

I'm excited to roll out our new addition of a Fiber Event Calendar! It focuses on Maine & New Hampshire but also has some events being presented in other areas of northern New England. Find the link on the left column of our blog.

Should you learn of an event, exhibition,workshop or fiber art gathering that you think we should add, please contact us!

Fiber Center to Exhibit Maine Mitten Project During 2013 Fryeburg Fair

The Fiber Center's 2013 Community project called the Maine Mitten Project is described as "kind souls making mittens, hats & scarves to help keep Maine's homeless children and adults warm".

These are donations being collected at Close Knit Sisters Yarn shop in N Conway, NH

Contributions are being collected at Heart of Biddeford, Scarborough, Library, REMAX/Country Living Realty in Fryeburg, and Close Knit Sisters Yarn shop in N Conway. Thanks to all of our supporters! Items will be collected throughout the year, displayed during fair week from September 29th through October 6th and then distributed to recipient organizations.

Organizations who will be receiving the hand made gifts are New Beginnings in Lewiston, Preble Street in Portland, York County Shelters in Alfred, and Shaw House in Bangor.

For more information about how to participate or where to drop off donations, please visit the Maine Mitten Project blog.

THE MAINE MITTEN PROJECT - 2012 -2013

Kind souls making Mittens, Hats & Scarves to help keep Maine's Homeless children and adults warm.

"The Maine Mitten Project” is being launched during fair week 2012. Free information flyers with patterns will be available and knitting classes will be offered. Anyone who knits, crochets, felts or wants to learn how, can make mittens, hats or scarves for children and adults to donate for a great cause. The handmades will be collected throughout the year and exhibited at the Fiber Center during fair week in 2013. At the end of the 2013 exhibit, items will be delivered to Homeless Shelters for distribution to Mainer’s most in need. As we identify the organizations that will be distributing our mittens, they will be listed on the blog.

Information flyers about the project will be available at the Fiber Center from Sunday, September 30, toSaturday,October 6, from9am - 9pm., andSunday October 7, 9-6pm. Maine author, Robin Hansen, is providing the basic mitten patterns. Hansen has written multiple books about Maine mitten lore with patterns. Hansen will also be demonstrating mitten knitting at The Fiber Center on Wednesday October 3, from 11-3pm.

It is our hope that you will be inspired to create for this project whether it's because you love the Traditional Arts, want to learn them, or are a kind soul who wants to help those in need.

For more information, visit The Maine Mitten Project blog.

THE MAINE REEF PROJECT- 2011 - 2012

Is a Satellite of the Worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Reef Project created by Margaret and Christine Werthiem of the Institute For Figuring in L. A., CA.

This project was funded by the West Oxford Agricultural Society, presenters of the Fryeburg Fair.

Members of the community and from as far away as Hawaii created examples of Sea Life using yarns, fibers and Traditional Fiber Arts. With nearly 100 contributors, and hundreds of donated pieces, the Fiber Center will feature THE MAINE REEF Installation during this year's fair from Sunday September 30th - Sunday, October 7th.

For more information about please visit the The Maine Reef Project Blog.

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