Events

There’s always something exciting happening at the Museum of International Folk Art! Join us for our many programs listed below.

Woven: Traditional Swedish Hair Jewelry

Woven: Traditional Swedish Hair Jewelry

November 20, 2022
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Join us for a public talk with hair weaver, artist and teacher,  Karen Keenan.

FREE with museum admission.  To request ASL interpretation, please contact patricia.sigala@state.nm.us by November 10.

in 2018, supported by the American Scandinavian Foundation, Karen traveled to Våmhus, home of her ancestors. There she learned how to make table-made hair jewelry from Joanna Svensson, a master hairworker. In October 2019, the Nordic Center in Duluth, MN featured a hair jewelry exhibition curated by Karen. She began teaching hair jewelry making, first at the Nordic Center and then at North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN. 

As a child, Karen was interested in her mother’s hair brooch from Våmhus, Sweden. Years later, with many needlework projects under her belt, Karen read about the tradition of Swedish women entrepreneurs in the 1800s who traveled from their homes in Sweden to major European urban areas to make hair jewelry for others. At the time, Karen was unaware of where this growing curiosity in hairwork would lead. Then, in 2018, supported by a Reviving Folk Arts in the Midwest Fellowship through the American Scandinavian Foundation, Karen traveled to Våmhus, home of her ancestors. There she learned how to make table-made hair jewelry from Joanna Svensson, a master hairworker. In October 2019, the Nordic Center in Duluth, MN featured a hair jewelry exhibition curated by Karen. She began teaching hair jewelry making, first at the Nordic Center and then at North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN. Karen continues to offer classes a North House Folk School and is working with curators at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, MN, in preparation for teaching a bracelet course there in January 2023. Stilll fascinated with traditional and contemporary hairwork, Karen appreciates her husband’s support by making hairwork tables and weights and is eager to share what she knows with others.

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Hair Weaving Workshop with Karen Keenan
Workshop

Hair Weaving Workshop with Karen Keenan

November 20, 2022
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Scandianavian hair weaving expert, teacher & scholar Karen Keenan presents a 2 hour workshop on the  Gimping Technique.

 One of 4 traditional sentimental era hairwork techniques, gimping was widely used to create handcrafted items such as brooches, gift cards, and for home adornments such as framed and hung hair wreaths. It and other hairwork techniques became less commonly made after the early 1900’s. Class participants will learn this technique by making multiple gimped strands with synthetic hair and wire. Shaped strands will then be attached to a card to keep or give to a friend or loved one.

To register for the free workshop email: leslie.fagre@state.nm.us

The workshop is restricted to 12 participants, but there will also be a waiting list if necessary.

In 2018, Karen received  a Reviving Folk Arts in the Midwest Fellowship through the American Scandinavian Foundation, to travel to Våmhus, home of her ancestors. There she learned how to make table-made hair jewelry from Joanna Svensson, a master hairworker. In October 2019, the Nordic Center in Duluth, MN featured a hair jewelry exhibition curated by Karen. She began teaching hair jewelry making, first at the Nordic Center and then at North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN. 

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