Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Wednesday, February 9, 1977, page 20 (of 36)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Weaving: Florida's misunderstood art
By CLAIRE ORTALDA Entertainment Writer An average South Floridian on a shopping trip for art for the home or office probably wouldn't raise an eyebrow at a $20 glazed ceramic bowl, a $200 limited edition graphic, or a $400 painting. But a $400 weaving is a different story. "It's almost as if weaving isn't considered an art form," said Barbara Parrott, a weaver who co-owns a Coral Gables gallery, Artisan's Exchange, with Astrid Palmer, also a weaver. South Florida weavers, like Ms. Parrott and Ms. Palmer, feel the public is not aware of the time, craftsmanship and expense which goes into a weaving. "Before you can become a decent weaver, you have to take years to learn technique and discipline," explained Ms. Parrott. Once the myriad techniques of weaving have been mastered, an artist spends additional time developing a unique style using one or more of the techniques. Ms. Parrott, for instance, concentrates on tapestry, particularly the Navajo style. Weaving also represents a substantial investment in equipment. While a small frame loom used by beginners can be constructed for as little as $3, the large floor looms range in price from $300 to $1500. Materials, yarns and linen or cotton string used to construct the warp, are "astronomical" in price, according to Ms. Palmer. The better yarns are wool, which is more expensive, and, as Ms. Parrott explained, "Wool is the medium for the serious weaver." The largest investment is the weaver's time. "It's a slow thing," said Barbara Clark of Fibrations, a weaving studio and gallery on South Dixie Highway. "People think weaving is fast, but it demands a lot more time than some of the crafts." Back at her Coral Gables store, Ms. Parrott pointed to an original four-by-four foot ocean blue weaving with a "Save the Whales" theme. "That weaving took me 90 hours to weave, not counting dying my yarns and threading the loom," she said. Priced at $400, the original design weaving, like others, moves slowly on the Florida art market. "Up North and out West, there's a lot more acceptance of weaving," said Ms. Clark. "I think we're on our way, but we're not there yet." "Things are starting to happen in South Florida, especially with the South Florida Weaver's Guild," Ms. Parrott added. Anxious to promote weaving in South Florida, the Guild sponsors talks and demonstrations by well-known professional weavers, demonstrates their crafts in schools and shopping centers, and arranges displays in local businesses. Ms. Parrott was influential with the Guild's collaboration with the Ceramic League of Miami in a first-of-its-kind show, Concepts: Clay and Fiber, held last April. Classes at local schools and stores provide another avenue for promotion of the art and understanding of its intricacies. In beginners weaving classes, ranging in cost from $25 to $45, students construct their own looms and learn the meaning of such terms as warp, weft, battan, shed, and string heddles. Besides learning the language, students take home their own original pillow or wall-hanging. Schools and shops offering classes include the Metropolitan Museum and Art Center on Kendall, The Web in Coral Gables, Berenice Conner's The Shuttle House and Fibrations. Barbara Parrott demonstrates the intricate art of tapestry weaving, Navajo style.
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