The Fiber Center is Part of The Fryeburg Fair, Fryeburg, Maine

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 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.