Historic Downtown Oregon City

Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush, Friday October 2^nd in Downtown Oregon City.

Meet Mary Wonser, an Oregon City handweaver.  Mary’s creativity is channeled through fabric woven on a loom. Her six looms range in size from a tabletop loom that produces a 24” wide fabric to a floor loom that produces a 42” wide fabric.

Mary has worked with some type of fiber since a young woman either embroidery, knitting, or weaving. Mary was first introduced to weaving through a class 26 years ago. She works as a certified coder at Willamette Falls Hospital and dedicates her weekend to her art. More than a hobby, for Mary weaving is her passion.

Weaving includes “working the loom” by dressing the loom with anywhere from 4 to 30 threads per inch vertically (called the warp) along the length of the loom and then weaving the weft across and between those threads. The weft is on a shuttle that Mary throws back and forth. It’s hard to explain, so you’ll have to join us downtown on October 2^nd from 4 to 7 p.m. and see this artist in action.

“Color is my main inspiration,” said Mary. “I tend to weave stripes, or geometric designs, or blocks with basic colors and different kinds of threads that give a unique texture.”

Mary’s creativity encourages her to look to texture and color for a clean design. She often looks at the world around her as a series of “verticals and horizontals”. When describing her inspiration Mary says, “When I take a drive and see a shape in a building; that may inspire one of my future designs.”

Mary Wonser uses wool she dyes herself in hot water on a stove, microwave or crock pot. She does her own coloring because she can get the exact color she wants. A wall hanging may take her eight to ten hours to complete. With intricate tapestry she will usually weave a ½ inch an hour if there are a lot of colors to incorporate into the fabric.

“I may work for an hour in the morning if I get up early enough, maybe in the evenings,” said Wonser, “Mostly I work on the weekend. Four to six hours on a good weekend day.”

Mary exhibits her work throughout the year locally. She has shared her craft and creativity at shows as far away as Michigan. In the past, she was Fiber Arts Superintendent at the Deschutes County Fair. Mary is participating in Arts in Action because she feels that, “anytime an artist has an opportunity to show their work and process it gives them a chance to share their knowledge with others.”

Mary Wonser will be featured as part of Downtown Oregon City’s first First Friday event Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush sponsored by Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street in downtown Oregon City.  Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush is produced as a collaboration between the Three Rivers Artist Guild and the non-profit Main Street Oregon City. The Oregonian newspaper has also signed on as a Downtown Oregon City First Friday series’ media sponsor.

Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush

A First Friday Event in Downtown Oregon City.

Friday, October 2^nd from 4 to 7 pm.

Downtown Oregon City’s first First Friday event Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush premieres Friday, October 2^nd from 4 to 7 pm.  This uniquely downtown event combines the commerce and culture of downtown and invites artists to expose themselves…in a very appropriate way to create Arts in Action.

What’s Happening Where from 4 to 7 pm on Friday October 2^nd:

• Live Music and Featured Artwork at Winestock at 820 Main Street.
• Arts in Windows Exhibit at 900 Main Street Suite 104.
• Art in Windows Exhibit at Fournier Group at 814 Main Street.
• Meet the Artist at Busch Furniture at 804 Main Street.
• Featured Artwork at Mi Famiglia at 701 Main Street.
• Meet the Artists at Pilates with Fe at 702 Main Street.
• Art in Windows Exhibit at ECP Copy at 623 Main Street.
• Live Music and Meet the Artist at The Caufield House at 723 Main Street.
• Art in Windows at Madco Draperies and Floor Coverings at 818 Main Street.
• Twenty Five Artists showcasing their talent and creative process at Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street.

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