"Rhapsody in Rugs: Rags to Rugs at the Carnegie"

2005 Winners

The Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, Indiana is pleased to announce the award winners for "Rhapsody in Rugs: Rags to Rugs at the Carnegie," on display September 17 through November 12, 2005. "Rhapsody in Rugs" is a national juried hooked rug show featuring over 50 hooked rugs created by artists from across the United States and Canada.

The judges for the 2005 "Rhapsody in Rugs" exhibit were three well-known experts in the rug-hooking field: Stephanie Krauss, Jessie Turbayne, and Dr. Carol Ambrozy. Stephanie Krauss, of Montpelier, Vermont, is currently the director of the Green Mountain Rug School where more than 20 rug hooking classes and three rug exhibits are offered each June. Jessie Turbayne, of Westwood, Massachusetts, is an internationally known author, teacher, and rug restoration expert. Jessie is currently working on her sixth book, which will feature contemporary rugs and photos of selected rugs from the "Rhapsody in Rugs" show. Dr. Carol Ambrozy, of Athol, Massachusetts, is president of the Association of Traditional Hooking Artists (ATHA) and presented the awards at the opening of "Rhapsody in Rugs" on September 17.

The $500 Best of Show Award was presented to John Flournoy of Laurel, Maryland, for his piece "Old Key West II." In his artist’s statement John explains his love of rug hooking: "I use this medium as my means of self-expression for its texture and its unique tactile quality creating pointillism in fiber art not unlike that of the expressionist painter." His imagery commonly deals with the architectural form, a subject he intends to continue exploring in his work.

$500 Best of Show "Old Key West II" John Flournoy Laurel, Maryland

Three $200 Merit Awards were presented to Natasha Chan, Judy McKinley, and Capri Boyle Jones. Natasha Chan of Carmel, Indiana, hooked "Samsara," a rug that she believes achieves her goal "to make each element so appealing that each could be independently appreciated." Although Natasha grew up watching her mother hook rugs, she has only taken it up personally in the past three years. Judy McKinley, from Cynthiana, Kentucky, was awarded the Merit Award for her rug "Patterson Oriental." In the late 1970s when she began hooking rugs, Judy declared, "I wouldn’t live long enough to hook everything I want to hook." The final Merit Award was presented to Capri Boyle Jones, of Navarre, Florida, for her rug "Friendship and Hospitality." Capri is the owner of Capri Boyle Rug Studio and a McGown accredited teacher.

$200 Merit Award "Samsara" Natasha Chan Carmel, Indiana

$200 Merit Award "Friendship and Hospitality" Capri Boyld Jones Navarre, Florida

$200 Merit Award "Patterson oriental" Judy McKinley Cynthia, Kentucky

Two Honorable Mention Awards were presented to Wendy Miller of Miamisburg, Ohio, designer of The Red Saltbox, a primitive rug hooking company, for her rug "Ohio Coverlet," and Anne Stevens from Leola, Pennsylvania, teacher and member of the Brandywine Guild of ATHA, for her rug "Nova Scotia Cove."

Honorable Mention "Ohio Coverlet" Wendy Miller Miamisburg, Ohio

Honorable Mention "Nova Scotia Cove Anne Stevens Leola, Pennsylvania

The first exhibit of its kind for this region, "Rhapsody in Rugs" is co-sponsored by the Carnegie Center, Inc. and Cat House Rugs, a full service rug-hooking studio in New Albany. Visit Cat House Rugs online at www.cathouserugs.com or call 812-945-RUGS (7847) to learn more. A complete schedule of rug hooking classes and workshops is being offered in conjunction with this exhibit. Registration is limited and class fees are due upon registration.