The American Tapestry Project
the unique tapestries of Jerome Regnier
Opening Reception: Friday October 4th, 6:00 – 8:00pm
on view October 4 — December 1, 2024
Closing Reception: Sunday December 1st, 5:00 – 7:00pm
Gallery hours: Monday–Friday 5:00–7:30 PM
and during Studio 34 Arts Events
Inspired by early exposure to the Gobelin and Bayeux tapestries of his native France, Jerome Regnier dedicated his retirement years to weaving scrolls representing the history of his adopted country, the United States. To that end, he designed and built tapestry looms on which he could weave tapestries whose width was unrestricted, including one 25 feet wide. Jerome produced 30 tapestries held together by such common threads as history, geography, and architecture of the United States, a selection of which will be presented at Studio 34.
About the artist:
Jerome Regnier (1927–2015) was born in France and in his youth moved to the United States. He received a Ph.D. in Geology from Columbia University in 1958. After working briefly for an oil company in Venezuela, he was a Professor of Geology at Rollins, Bryn Mawr, Wellesley and Vassar Colleges. Jerome wove his first tapestry in 1978. In 1993 he decided to focus his efforts on creating a documentary style through which he would explore the history, geography, and architecture of the United States, and embarked on “The American Tapestry Project.” Jerome Regnier worked out of his home in Hadley, Massachusetts. He exhibited his work in both group and solo shows in the New England area as well as at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in Missouri, and the Boston Public Library.
About the show:
The American Tapestry Project is a series of tapestries illustrating selected aspects of the history, architecture and landscape of the United States. The series touches on a range of historical moments and geographical areas. The historical images are based on compilations of prints and drawings of the period. All the subject matter is thoroughly researched. While the tapestries as a group have a strong and coherent artistic style, each is influenced by the cultural or folk traditions appropriate to the subject.
The extended horizontal format of many of these tapestries required a special loom, designed and built by Jerome himself. With some tapestries measuring as much as 25 feet in width, finished portions of the tapestry were moved off to the left while warp threads were added on the right. Woven in a variety of yarns, the tapestries were then embroidered, adding further detail and texture to the works.
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