Community Outreach 2019-2020

at the wickford middle school

Under the direction of Joy Beeson the guild worked for a second year with Wickford Middle School art teacher Alicia Skaggs.This year Joy and three assistant weavers — Mary Brunell, Judy Tysmans, and Janet Cooper — instructed after school art student…

Under the direction of Joy Beeson the guild worked for a second year with Wickford Middle School art teacher Alicia Skaggs.

This year Joy and three assistant weavers — Mary Brunell, Judy Tysmans, and Janet Cooper — instructed after school art students frame tapestry techniques. The group met for three sessions: November 19 and 26, and December 10, 2019.

2018 Community Outreach

Wickford Middle School

On November 21 and December 5, 2018, WGRI worked with middle school art teacher, Alicia Skaggs to weave with her students. The guild members donated fibers and loaned looms. Table looms were loaned for use by WGRI, Claire Wanabo, and Sally Rianhard. Inkle loom loaned by Janet Cooper. Rigid Heddle loom loaned by Judy Tysmans. Tablet looms were loaned by Joy Beeson.

Janet Cooper coordinated the program with volunteer members Liz Hill, Janet Cooper, Judy Tysmans, Claire Wanebo, Mary Sherman, and Mary Brunell. The students moved from station to station to experience the different types of looms. Ms Skaggs assigned them to groups called the Warps, the Wefts, the Fibers, and the Looms. It was an enjoyable session for the students. One student said, “I am going to ask my parents for weaving supplies for Christmas! Another student asked her shop teacher if she could make a tablet loom. He had her measure and draw the loom to bring to his class.

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Happy weavers from the Wickford Middle School. These talented young students are showing the inkle bands they wove during our two sessions. Their individual bands were made into keychains as a memento of our time together.

Happy weavers from the Wickford Middle School. These talented young students are showing the inkle bands they wove during our two sessions. Their individual bands were made into keychains as a memento of our time together.

Keychains made from students’ inkle bands.

Keychains made from students’ inkle bands.