Instructor Bios

A whirlwind of artistic energy … Janis is always exploring and sharing information about her fibery adventures. She teaches at Eugene Textile Center, guilds, and at festivals in and around the Pacific Northwest.

Barbara Setsu Pickett and her son Michael create highly textured silk scarves for their Mihara Shibori Studio collections. Barbara is an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Art at the University of Oregon. The focus of her teaching and creative practice is velvetweaving, shibori, natural dyeing and artists’ books. Michael specializes in indigo dyeing and shibori and has created unique shibori patterns.

Judy Ann Ness is a tapestry artist and fiber arts teacher in Eugene, OR. She is primarily interested in color in weaving, spinning and dyeing. Her tapestry work is usually figurative with feather forms or landscapes often featured. Judy’s special interests are in Norwegian textiles and Diné (Navajo) weaving. Her students are encouraged to participate in an atmosphere of fun while exploring their unique voices and nurturing the urge to create.

Marilyn Robert has worked in the field of textile design and fiber art since the 1980s. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Fibers from the University of Oregon. She has been the recipient of grants and awards, including a Japan Foundation Artist Grant in 1997 to travel in Japan for study of traditional indigo-dyed textiles and contemporary fiber art. Her artwork is exhibited internationally. She is the author of several articles about textiles, and enjoys curatorial work. She taught for thirteen years at Lane Community College as head of the Fibers program, and as an adjunct Fine Arts professor at the University of Oregon, both in Eugene, Oregon. Marilyn is the co-founder of Eugene Textile Center and currently travels, lecturing and teaching workshops. In 2001, she organized a textile tour to Turkey, where she returned in 2012 for the First International Textile Conference in Istanbul. She teaches both surface design techniques, such as dyeing, printing, mechanical and chemical manipulations of cloth, as well as handweaving. Marilyn is passionate about dyeing with botanical dyes and continues to teach and to learn more about this, her favorite subject.

Mary Hettmansperger is a fiber and jewelry artist who teaches in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Singapore internationally. Across the US and at Arrowmont, Penland, Bead and Button, Convergence, National and Regional Fiber conferences, Art and Craft Schools, and private Guilds.

Mary has authored and illustrated 3 books Fabulous Woven jewelry, Wrap, Stitch, fold and Rivet, and Mixed metal Jewelry workshop all published by Lark/Sterling. Currently Mary is working on two more books, a new jewelry book - Spring 2012 release and an Art Quilt book - Fall 2012 release, titles to be announced soon. Other books include, Jewelry Design Challenge, 500 Baskets, Fiber Arts Design Book 7, the Gourd Book, Creative Scarecrows, Pushing the envelope, Fabulous Found object jewelry, Teapots - makers and collectors, Beading with Crystals, and Creative Beading Volume 2.

Mary has had work exhibited at SOFA – through the Katie Gingrass Gallery. She does segments for the PBS programming - Beads Baubles and jewels and Quilting Art and has had her work published in many magazines, including, Quilting Arts, Art jewelry, Bead and Button, Beadwork, Shuttle Spindle and dye pot, and Crafts Report.

See her work on her webisite: www.maryhetts.com