Congratulations to Robbie LaFleur who was nominated by not just one but THREE of her peers!
This award was intended for those in the WGM community to have an opportunity to recognize a volunteer who went above and beyond in the past year. We received many nominations (thank you for your submissions!) but the most nominations went to Robbie and the WGM volunteer/outreach and membership committees confirmed this nomination. Thank you Robbie for your extraordinary service! WGM was happy to celebrate her many contributions at the 2017 WGM Volunteer Appreciation Reception held August 8, 2017 at Moscow on the Hill.
Some highlights from Robbie’s nomination recommendations include:
“This year, Robbie coordinated the Year of Linen AND the Scandinavian Weavers Interest Group, helped coordinate and hang several exhibits, helped with communications (including The Draft), and is helping to organize a warp-weighted weaving demonstration at Shepherd’s Harvest, all while doing amazing work as a weaver. She embodies the generous spirit of the Weavers Guild, which seeks to bring the arts of spinning, weaving, and dyeing to our community, as well as its pursuit of artistic excellence.”
“I joined the Scandinavian Weavers group last year and have witnessed firsthand Robbie’s extraordinary commitment to promoting Scan Weaving and it’s broader interpretation benefiting the entire weaving community. The Linen interest group and associated classes is an example.”
“…nominate Robbie Lafleur for an outstanding job she does for the Guild. She deserves this recognition in so many ways. One of her greatest attributes is she volunteers and never boasts about her accomplishments. There is something to be said about that. She is a good listener, always treats everyone with respect. Someone to be admired.”
We asked Robbie a few questions… enjoy!
Tell us about you. How did you find weaving?
I took classes at the Weavers Guild while I was in college at the University of Minnesota and the Guild was in Dania Hall on the West Bank. After college I attended Valdres Husflidsskole in Fagernes, Norway, for a thorough grounding in Norwegian weaving techniques. I wove throughout my career with the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. My daughter’s childhood memory is that her attempts to sleep in on Saturday mornings were disturbed by the banging of the loom.
When did you join WGM? How did you find out about WGM?
I don’t remember when I joined—a long time ago. In my earlier children/career years, I was not so active.
What type of weaving do you like to currently do?
Tapestry and boundweave techniques. Currently I’ve been working with danskbrogd, a boundweave variant. And rya—I have a rya with indigo-dyed yarn in the planning stages. Every once in a while, I feel compelled to make a rag rug.
Are there other practices you’d like to try/learn more about?
I plan to try the wool transparency technique of Frida Hansen this winter, and go back to more exploration of transparency technique on a linen background, too. I have an idea that I would like to weave my grandmother, life-size. Also, I’m developing a course in billedvev (Norwegian tapestry) and accepting more opportunities to teach and lecture.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere: Museums, paintings, photos, random designs created by shadows on a sidewalk, traditional folk symbols, the latest news. As a farmer’s daughter from northwestern Minnesota, I am working on farm field and equipment imagery.
Who are your favorite weavers?
Dead list: Two of the major 20th century Norwegian weavers—Hannah Ryggen for her freedom in design and political commentary; and Frida Hansen for the beautiful patterning in her designs and her unique wool transparency technique. Lila Nelson for her fearless experimentation in technique and her generosity of spirit. Märta Måås-Fjetterström, because I would love to make rugs like her. Living List: Aino Kajiniemi, the Finnish magician in thread. Helena Hernmarck. Also my favorite weavers are those who exemplify the “I can figure that out” attitude that I admire. At the risk of missing many other friends, I appreciate Jan Mostrom, Phyllis Waggoner, and Kala Exworthy.
Why do you think weaving and creative makers are important?
The world would be a bleaker place if all textile artists gave it up, turning in fiber for paints and just buying practical textiles ready-made. There is too much to be said, artistically, through the medium of textiles. There is too much joy to be distributed through textiles that are lovingly made.
My friend Heidi Goldberg once wrote an article for The Norwegian Textile Letter, “Transforming Through Tradition: Teaching Nordic Arts at Concordia College, Moorhead.” I always think of her observation: “There are many students who have never worked on projects requiring facile hand skills unless it involved a computer keyboard.” Teaching weaving is important.
I like the fact that weaving can be an artistic and an intellectual pursuit. For me, weaving and research about weaving has become a link to people, locally and internationally.
Why do you volunteer at WGM? What has been your biggest contribution/impact in your view?
My biggest contribution has been merely to bring together people to learn from and be inspired by one another. And through writing about classes and Guild activities, and working with exhibits, I like to bring attention to the work of weavers.
Do you have any words of wisdom for beginning weavers?
Don’t worry if you feel like you have to invent the wheel several times over. Many times I look at pieces I wove many years back, and think, “I wonder how I ever did that….” Take classes. Even if you don’t end up pursuing a particular technique, you will inevitably gain weaving wisdom from your instructor and your fellow students, and be inspired for whatever type of weaving you end up doing. Participate in Weavers Guild interest groups—and don’t worry, you don’t have to go all the time.
Anything you’d like to tell your peer nominators?
You are so sweet.
Robbie LaFleur is a Minneapolis weaver, editor, and writer. She has a BA in Scandinavian Studies and an MA in Library Science, both from the University of Minnesota. As the former director of the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, she spent 29 years serving the Legislature, including the organization, promotion, and digitization of Minnesota state documents. Robbie weaves primarily contemporary textiles inspired by Norwegian coverlets and tapestries, and was awarded the Vesterheim Gold Medal in weaving in 2006. She coordinates the Weavers Guild of Minnesota Scandinavian Weavers Study Group, publishes the quarterly Norwegian Textile Letter, and is the copy editor of the American Tapestry Alliance publication, Tapestry Topics. As the current Communications Committee co-chair, she is committed to building connections by sharing the stories and accomplishments of talented WGM members.
