Guild member Sandy Cahill at her loom (photo by Godaddy Social)
The Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City celebrates its 70th anniversary
Woven materials are all around us. They dry us, clothe us and keep us warm. Each of these fabrics began as a single thread and was transformed through weaving into a completed piece.
Those who gravitate toward this practice have a home in the Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City.
The group was founded in 1954 in the decade after World War II. Many in this traumatic time found comfort in the resurgence of handcrafting. Thus, the Weavers Guild was formed as a multifaceted community, “with the mission of promoting and furthering the art of hand weaving, spinning, felting, and all fiber arts.” The guild now has about 150 members, and its programming includes meetings, showcases, workshops, educational opportunities and outreach.
The Guild is currently celebrating its 70th year with added programming, including their 70th Anniversary Showcase, May 1 through Aug. 17 at Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. This showcase features 27 pieces from current members of the Guild that highlight the breadth and depth of the art of weaving. Materials range from the expected cottons, silks and wools to, surprisingly, wet paper. Types of weavings are also varied — some wearable or functional, like dresses or scarves; others are tapestries, wall hangings or felted designs. In all, the artistic vision and dedication to craft shines through.
Featured artist and member since 2014 Lynette Beebe specializes in artistic pieces made from carpet warp and wet paper. Her “Fun with Wet Paper” in the 70th Anniversary Showcase features neutral colors and geometric shapes. The Guild adds to Beebe’s life in many ways. “Being a member of the Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City has provided me many opportunities and chances to meet kind, generous people who love sharing their knowledge,” she says. It is a group of people who I feel like understand me.”
On the wearable side, featured artist and member since 2013 Rebecca Foote is showing “Blended Shawl,” which utilizes different shades of brown to form a striking motif. “Being a member of the Guild has proven to be a very important source of many things,” Foote said, “not only weaving information and direction, but it also provides a wonderful support and family feel that I miss when I’m out for a while.”
One avenue for support comes from monthly Guild meetings. Nancy Gibson, member since 2017, says, “I love being a member of the Weavers Guild! The meetings always keep me interested and challenged in my weaving and felting.” These meetings not only include the business of running a nonprofit, but also feature guest speakers, show-and-tell sessions and rotating themed programs. For example, the January meeting includes a swap and shop for members to trade materials and equipment. October holds a challenge in which members create a piece centered around a theme. This year, members will work on the theme “opposites attract.”
Beyond offering a tight-knit community and opportunities for artistic expression, the Weavers Guild promotes continued learning. Members are encouraged to participate in educational programs both nationally and globally and bring their learning back to the rest of the group.
For centuries, cultures around the world have had their own forms of weaving, fashioned around their unique needs and aesthetics. One example is the Scandinavian weaving technique krokbragd, which utilizes strands of wool with colorful patterns as a way to insulate from harsh Scandinavian winters. Because of the pandemic, many of these global weaving techniques have become accessible via online classes. As such, head of the planning committee and longtime member Janet Meddings has been able to use her 400-pound loom from home to expand her repertoire of weaving skills.
Though some types of weaving can be expensive and require extensive knowledge, Meddings and the Guild emphasize that it does not have to be costly or complicated. In designing low-cost looms made from copper pipes and handing out laser-cut looms at outreach events, Meddings explains, “We want to show the public that you can get into fiber arts for a small investment.” On June 15, the group held a public event of fiber making at Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center in which they handed out these laser-cut looms with a weaving starter kit.
Each November, guild members are invited to show and sell their work at the Creative Hand Show & Sale in Shawnee, Kansas. Meddings says, “The two-day event is over 30 years old and features guild member fiber art. Items include wearable art, functional items, handspun yarn and much more.” This provides members with the invaluable opportunity to share their craft with the community.”
The Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City comprises weavers of all levels and allows them to grow their skills and network. Meddings has even coined her own type of wearable — the sharf, a mix between a scarf and a shawl. Others have turned their fiber work into a career. Abraham Buddish, a designer at Brentano Inc., credits the Weavers Guild for “expanding and refining my textile knowledge and skills, ultimately leading me to a career in textiles.”
See the Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City’s 70th Anniversary Showcase at Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas, through Aug. 17. Visit www.kcweaversguild.org for a full list of 70th anniversary events.
