Main Street Gallery is delighted to welcome Betty Burbage and Elissa Crouch as guest artists for May and June in a show curated by local artist Lisa Krentel. Betty and Elissa, who call their show “Hookers, Strippers and Dyers”, are artists who engage in the traditional art of rug hooking to create unique handmade rugs. Those who engage in this art are known as hookers and they create their rugs by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a woven base using a crochet-type hook. The wool, which can be purchased or recycled from clothing, is felted and then dyed to a depth and brilliance that the hooker desires. The wool then goes through a process called stripping that leaves it looking like a colorful linguine which is ready to be hooked into the maker’s vision.
Betty Burbage, Nomad Runner, 87 x 28
The inspiration to become a rug hooker came to Betty while she was traveling in Nova Scotia about 27 years ago. She was introduced to some examples of beautiful yarn and wool hooking and was intrigued by what she saw. She thought she may want to try hooking for herself and about a year later she got her chance when she saw someone demonstrating rug hooking near her home in Berlin, MD. She was instantly hooked. Betty, who is a retired supervisor for the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, belongs to the Delmarva Friendship Rug Crafters Guild and is a member of the National Guild of Pearl K. McGown Rug Crafters. Her rugs have garnered honors, including a blue ribbon at the Worcester County Fair. They have also been published in “Celebration”, a juried show of the finest rugs in the world.
Elissa Crouch, Rapture, Jane McGown Flynn design, 73 x 45.5
Elissa, who is a resident of Cambridge, MD came to hooking 38 years ago when a dear friend introduced her to the art. While it was definitely love at first loop, Elissa, who worked full time, could not find instructors nearby, so she taught herself how to hook. Later she took classes from well-known rug hookers and attended classes and workshops to further hone her skills.
Elissa is a prolific hooker who is fully engaged in the process of designing her own patterns and custom dyeing her wool.
Her work is in numerous private collections and she has also been published in “Celebration XXIV”.
“Hookers, Strippers and Dyers” will open on Thursday, May 5 and will run through Sunday, July 3. The public is invited to meet the artists and see their colorful, one of a kind rugs at two free artist’s receptions which will take place on Second Saturdays, May 14 and June 11 from 5-8 pm.
Gallery hours for this show will be Thursday through Monday from 11-5. Visitors may also call the gallery at 410-330-4659 to schedule an appointment to see the show or visit the gallery’s website at www.mainstgallery.net.
Main Street Gallery, which is located at 518 Poplar St., is Cambridge’s only artist-owned and run cooperative and is currently reviewing work from prospective members and guest artists. Please contact the gallery if you are interested in being a part of this vibrant artist community.
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