We’re excited to be co-hosting with the Center for Design and Material Culture a demonstration by hairwork artist, Karen Keenan of Hemslöjd Studios. Karen has apprenticed with master hairworkers in Våmhus, Sweden, the community known for its professional hair workers and the home village of her ancestors. She has presented on the topic of Traditional Swedish Hair Jewelry for the Nordic Center, Duluth, MN, Vesterheim Museum, Decorah, Iowa, and the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, NM. During her visit to Madison, she will be sharing her expertise in a demonstration covering:
- An introduction to hairwork techniques from the late 1700-1800’s
- A brief history of hair work’s likely origins with regard to cultural environment
- Karen’s journey into hairwork: origins, surprises and outcomes (including contemporary applications)
- How do you use a hair table to make hair jewelry?
- Q & A