Spring, 2022 President's Report

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If you haven’t registered for MAWS 2022 Visions in Fiber Conference yet, you still have time. Several classes are full, but there are plenty of amazing instructors sharing their techniques and visions with space available.

I’m sure I sound like a broken record, but Annette Cade and her Helena crew have done an outstanding job pulling this conference together for the 2 nd time after having to cancel it during the pandemic. Pre Conference workshops run June 21 23, with the main conference starting Thursday, June 23 and concluding Sunday, June 26 at noon. Carroll College provides an intimate setting with all the amenities. There are lodging and meal options for many budgets. This is an opportunity to learn from talented instructors, some who live amongst us
in Montana, an d others who will travel to our conference from other states.
I am so excited to hear the speaker Thursday evening, Dr Mary Biehl, great-granddaughter of Mary Meigs Atwater! She will talk about Mary, as well as share some of Mary’s original weavings. Mary Meigs Atwater has been called “the grand dame and grandmother of the revival of handweaving in the United States” and lived from 1878-1956. Mary studied at the Chicago Art Institute and in Paris, France. She lived in Bolivia and Mexico, as well as several western states including Basin, Montana. She researched patterns and collected forgotten weaves which she published in “The Shuttle-Craft Book of American Hand-Weaving” in 1928. You will not want to miss this program!!!
A highlight of every conference is the announcement and induction of our 2022 Living Treasures. This year’s ceremony will take place Friday evening. Share in the celebration of these accomplished people, see the works they have produced, and hear how they have influenced other fiber artists.
Those who have attended MAWS conferences in the past will tell you that in addition to attending fabulous workshops, you will meet fiber minded people throughout all activities that will form connections and friendships going forward. The more you put into the conference, the more you will get out of the conference.
Enter your pieces in the Open Show and the Fashion Show. Participate in the skein and towel exchanges. Shop at the Vendor Booths and peruse the Guild Booths.
I close with a quote by Mary M eigs Atwater from the book “Weaving a Life The story of Mary Meigs Atwater
“Weaving is so old; it has come through a million wars. It will come through this one, if a single pair of human hands is left alive.”
I ask you to think of the weavers and people of Ukraine whose daily existence has become a struggle to survive.
Until next time,
Sharon Schroeder

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