Then & Now | Canada Games & Library Galleries | November 3 – December 20, 2023
Group Biography
The Carnegie Rughookers began meeting in 2004 in the beautiful Carnegie building, formerly known as the Saint John Free Public Library, currently the Saint John Arts Centre. Coming into our 20th year, we continue to be inspired by the art exhibits that surround us each week.
We meet every Friday morning, September to June, to share ideas and inspiration and work on rughooking projects in a social atmosphere. Our small group has grown to over 50 members. New members are always welcome.
We are known for our group projects, where all members are encouraged to participate. Notable projects are: collaborating with Les Hookeuses du Bor’de’lo on a hooked project for the New Brunswick Museum; collectively hooking a large cushion for the Barachois International Collection of Hooked Cushions; and creating a hooked mat to celebrate Canada 150, which hangs in the lobby of the Saint John Arts Centre.
Over the past 20 years the Carnegie Rughookers have had many exhibits at venues including: Saint John Arts Centre, Saint John City Market, Imperial Theatre, Sunbury Shores in St Andrews, and the Hooked Rug Museum of North America in Hubbards, Nova Scotia.
Then & Now
Our current exhibit, Then & Now, showcases the artistic journey of each rughooking artist from their beginnings to the present.
During the pandemic, there was a refreshing influx of new members to our group. The broad theme of this exhibit allowed all to participate, regardless of rughooking experience. The oldest “Then” mat was hooked in 1989; the most recent, in 2022.
It is a great joy to share the range of styles and wealth of creativity in all of these works.
The participating artists are: Mary Jane Anderson; Carol Baker; Teresa Bogle; Gabriela de Austin; Judy Eldridge-Miller; Mary Hancox; Joanne Harris; Gwen Henry; Heather Kennedy; Lynn Kinsella; Anne Leger; Lorraine Leger; Linda LeMesurier; Mary McInerney; Erin McKenna; Pat Neill; ReBecca Paterson; Margaret Phillips; Sandy Piekarski; Joyce Procure; Josianne Rodier; Kathryn Rutherford; Susan Sargent; Alan Tibbetts; Paula Weiss