Mary Burns, jacquard weaver
An award-winning weaver, Mary creates handwoven Jacquard weavings, rugs, wall pieces, tapestries and felted work. Her exhibit Ancestral Women was woven on her TC-1 and TC-2 looms between 2015 and 2016. She lives in northern Wisconsin.
Mary expresses her love of northern woodlands and waters in her weavings and writings. She creates tapestries and felted work that reflect the hues and patterns of the natural world. Her jacquard looms, a TC-1 named Nora and a TC-2 named Bridget Mariah, allow her to craft her work in even greater detail, vibrancy, and character. She also weaves custom designed hand-woven rugs and wall pieces. Mary gathers inspiration from many places and cultures, including the natural world, ancient rock art, the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Arts & Crafts Movement.
Her looms have ranged in width from 10 inches to 10 feet. She teaches tapestry and other forms of weaving as well as felting.
She has displayed her work in art exhibits and shows including several art and science collaborations, and has received many awards including the Best of Show in Wausau’s Festival of Arts in 2012 and in 2008.
Mary’s first novel Heartwood (2003) is a fantasy/natural history novel for young adults. She is a contributor to A Place to Which We Belong: Wisconsin Writers on Wisconsin Landscapes (1998).
Mary and her family have lived in her grandparents’ home in northern Wisconsin since 1984. Mary’s love of weaving started in high school art class and has only continued to grow over time.
For more information and a gallery of Mary’s work, please visit her main website at Manitowish River Studio.
Ancestral Women 