The community mat is a collaborative project that invites participation from both visitors and artists. One person learns to pull loops and passes their new skill on to the next person, proving it’s accessible to all ages and skill levels. The community mat steadily takes shape. 

The community mat project also serves as an interactive educational display complementing the Stories are Made Loop by Loop exhibit. Throughout June, visitors and school groups are invited to learn the basics of this traditional craft using simple directions printed from Rug Hooking Magazine. 

Rounding out the educational components of the exhibit are opportunities to see how Domenica Queen uses the art of rug hooking with plastic bags and journaling to design a mat project with Susan Feller. 

Once the exhibit draws to a close, the completed community mat will be donated to the museum, serving as a lasting testament to the collaborative spirit fostered within the community. 

theclaycenter.org/exhibits/storiesaremadeloopbyloop  

Top Image: Elizabeth Simmons, Juliet Art Museum director at The Clay Center, Charleston, West Virginia, demonstrates pulling hoops at an interactive educational display complementing the Stories are Made Loop by Loop exhibition.