Natural Fibers Group

There's an exciting new guild forming in Beaufort County which combines a love of nature, art, and weaving: the Natural Fibers Group. The group will focus on exploring natural fibers, including collecting responsibly in the field and garden, processing materials, and creating art work. The Natural Fibers Group will be associated with the Beaufort County Arts Council.

This new guild is the brainchild of local artist Lynn Hoyt. Inspiration for the Natural Fibers Group comes from "The Basket Bunch” guild in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Hoyt and her fiber art business partner, Pamela Zimmerman, visited “The Basket Bunch”, and were impressed with what they found. An eclectic collection of artists and naturalists, “The Basket Bunch” teach each other, through shared gathering expeditions and group weaves. The communal spirit that embodied the group was spiced with an unmistakable sense of adventure. It was contagious! After visiting Maryland, Hoyt and Zimmerman immediately set out to find some of the magic experienced in their brief visit by exploring their own gardens and woods for new materials and ways to use them.

The new Natural Fibers Group will explore wild fiber art "from the ground up". Field excursions may include traipsing through woods and field collecting stems, pine needles, roots, grasses, and bark, pulling wild kudzu vines or garden planning and gathering. Each gathering session will include processing the natural materials as necessary to allow them to be worked. Finally, each member will create one-of-a-kind works with the collected materials, utilizing weaving techniques and surface treatments.

Zimmerman and Hoyt know from experience that there is fulfillment and beauty in employing primitive methods to make traditional and innovative woven pieces. An award-winning gourd artist and former landscape designer, Hoyt draws on her knowledge of plants and design, and recently taught at the North Carolina Basketmakers’ Association annual convention. Zimmerman was designated Beaufort County Art’s Councils “Best Beaufort County Artist” in 2003, and has worked with fiber in various applications, including basketry and fabric surface design, over the past 10 years. Both women have won numerous awards for their art.

Everyone interested is welcome to join The Natural Fibers Group, including beginners and those from surrounding areas. Yearly dues are $10 to cover costs of a newsletter. For more information, contact Lynn Hoyt at (252) 322-4646 or lynnhoyt@earthlink.net.