Mary E. Snyder: The Threads of Her Life
Sandra Swarbrick
From weaving rag rugs for an interior designer as a teenager, to starting a weaving program at a prestigious fine arts school, Mary E. Snyder had a remarkable career during the same era, and in the same circles, as those weavers that our Swatch Study group recently studied.
Mary began as a production weaver, creating table linens, skirts and stoles for large departments stores and art shows during the 1930s and 40s. Active in art groups and weaving guilds at the time, she began to teach weaving, first via adult education programs, then from her own studio, and then via guilds across the U.S. and Canada, culminating with a year-round program at the famous Banff School of Fine Arts.
At the age of 60, Mary earned her BFA and MFA in Fine Arts from the University of Kansas, completing both in just three years. She authored two weaver's classics: Lace and Lacey Weaves and The Crackle Weave. For examples of Mary's work, see her archives in the Thousand Island Arts Center catalog.
Sandra L. Swarbrick was fortunate to get to know Mary as a friend. In this presentation, Sandra will give us a glimpse into a personal and professional weaver's remarkable life.
Sandra L. Swarbrick is a past President of the Handweavers' Guild of America. In her decades with HGA, she has overseen more than twenty examinations as co-chair of the Certificate of Excellence. Still active with guilds in California, Washington and Canada, she enjoys weaving and basketweaving as well as gardening and hiking in the Pacific Northwest.
