Laura Kenney is a fibre artist who uses the traditional Nova Scotian craft of rug hooking to create original hand-hooked, hand-dyed, rugs/wall hangings.
Her work has been described as “whimsical, playful folk art.” It just makes one happy to be around it! Many of her rugs feature the character Judy, whom Kenney describes this way:
“Judy is a woman that kept coming up in my rugs. She has red hair, wears a black dress and red boots and she doesn’t particularly like housework. I keep picturing her in different situations, like using her ironing board as a surfboard or getting stuck in trees or lobster traps. She is a fun gal and people seem to relate to her.”
Kenney is busy preparing for an upcoming show, entitled: I am a Lighthouse, it is your call, with PLANS artist Steven Rhude, but was happy to share a bit about herself and her work.
How did you start making art?
I went to a rug hooking exhibit put on by the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia in 1998. When I saw the rugs… well, I don’t know if it was the colours or the textures, but I just had this overwhelming feeling that I wanted to try hooking. So I did and I loved it.
Which artist has inspired you the most?
Yikes! Hard to pick just one, but I'll have to go with William Roach. No, wait, Steven Rhude. Can I pick two? William is a folk artist living in Cheticamp and I have a print of his hanging in my studio. It’s a seagull flying through the sky with skis on; every time I see it, it makes me laugh. It's great folk art.
Steven is a painter living in Wolfville, I find him inspiring as he is one of the few artists “talking” in his work about what’s happening in Nova Scotia regarding the loss of the fisheries, rural schools and the demise of one of our cultural symbols, the lighthouse.
What role does the artist have in society?
I can just speak for myself, but the great thing about being an artist is I’m pretty much free to “say” what I want. I don't have a boss or voters to please, or stockholders to answer to. So because I have that freedom, I think it’s important to speak the truth about issues I’m concerned about.
That’s what the show — I am a lighthouse, it is your call — is all about. This is a show I’m doing with Steven Rhude and it began for me as I became worried when I found out many of our lighthouses are in danger. My hope is that when people come to see this work, it will cause them to become concerned as well and maybe take action.
What are you working on at the moment?
I have one more rug to work on for the upcoming show at Harvest Gallery in Wolfville with Steven. The opening is Oct. 18 at 2 to 4 p.m. and the show runs till Nov. 16 with an artist talk on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. And then I’ll be getting ready for a pop-up show at NovelTea in Truro in November.
What memorable response have you had to your work?
A woman wrote to me a few months ago and she said her Mom hadn't been well, but when she saw one of my Judy rugs, it made her laugh. That made my day… no, my year.
Where can we find you?
I have a studio in our home in Truro and my work can be found at Harvest Gallery, Gallery 215, Swoon, Sunset Gallery and the AGNS Gallery Shop in Halifax. My website is www.laurakenneyrugs.ca and I’m on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LauraKenneyArtist.
Janice Guinan is a local artist who passionately believes in the importance of visual art.
Laura Kenney is a fibre artist who uses the traditional Nova Scotian craft of rug hooking to create original hand-hooked, hand-dyed, rugs/wall hangings.
Her work has been described as “whimsical, playful folk art.” It just makes one happy to be around it! Many of her rugs feature the character Judy, whom Kenney describes this way:
“Judy is a woman that kept coming up in my rugs. She has red hair, wears a black dress and red boots and she doesn’t particularly like housework. I keep picturing her in different situations, like using her ironing board as a surfboard or getting stuck in trees or lobster traps. She is a fun gal and people seem to relate to her.”
Kenney is busy preparing for an upcoming show, entitled: I am a Lighthouse, it is your call, with PLANS artist Steven Rhude, but was happy to share a bit about herself and her work.
How did you start making art?
I went to a rug hooking exhibit put on by the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia in 1998. When I saw the rugs… well, I don’t know if it was the colours or the textures, but I just had this overwhelming feeling that I wanted to try hooking. So I did and I loved it.
Which artist has inspired you the most?
Yikes! Hard to pick just one, but I'll have to go with William Roach. No, wait, Steven Rhude. Can I pick two? William is a folk artist living in Cheticamp and I have a print of his hanging in my studio. It’s a seagull flying through the sky with skis on; every time I see it, it makes me laugh. It's great folk art.
Steven is a painter living in Wolfville, I find him inspiring as he is one of the few artists “talking” in his work about what’s happening in Nova Scotia regarding the loss of the fisheries, rural schools and the demise of one of our cultural symbols, the lighthouse.
What role does the artist have in society?
I can just speak for myself, but the great thing about being an artist is I’m pretty much free to “say” what I want. I don't have a boss or voters to please, or stockholders to answer to. So because I have that freedom, I think it’s important to speak the truth about issues I’m concerned about.
That’s what the show — I am a lighthouse, it is your call — is all about. This is a show I’m doing with Steven Rhude and it began for me as I became worried when I found out many of our lighthouses are in danger. My hope is that when people come to see this work, it will cause them to become concerned as well and maybe take action.
What are you working on at the moment?
I have one more rug to work on for the upcoming show at Harvest Gallery in Wolfville with Steven. The opening is Oct. 18 at 2 to 4 p.m. and the show runs till Nov. 16 with an artist talk on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. And then I’ll be getting ready for a pop-up show at NovelTea in Truro in November.
What memorable response have you had to your work?
A woman wrote to me a few months ago and she said her Mom hadn't been well, but when she saw one of my Judy rugs, it made her laugh. That made my day… no, my year.
Where can we find you?
I have a studio in our home in Truro and my work can be found at Harvest Gallery, Gallery 215, Swoon, Sunset Gallery and the AGNS Gallery Shop in Halifax. My website is www.laurakenneyrugs.ca and I’m on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LauraKenneyArtist.
Janice Guinan is a local artist who passionately believes in the importance of visual art.
