The Fabric of the Past: Thomas Kay Woolen Mill

The Willamette Heritage Center in Salem has early settlement homes  and the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, which you can walk through.  The mill was founded in 1889 by Thomas Kay and produced fine woolen blankets and fabrics.  It was managed by four generations of the Kay family and operated continuously until 1962.  It is the only woolen mill museum in the western United States and has a water powered turbine capable of generating electricity from the millrace.

The mill is clean, quiet.  The 19th and early 20th Century equipment still in working order.  The wooden carts and tools stand ready, as if they had been stopped because of a lunch break that was almost over.  There is a museum attendant, in period costume who will turn on the weaving machine and bring it to life.

There are large wheels and wide belts slowly moving through out the mill.  The water power still providing the energy to turn raw fleeces into fine wool fabric.

Walking down the long open work spaces of the mill is a walk back into our industrial heritage.  You can almost hear the machines pull, twist or ply the wool into shape.  The floor shows the memory of all the water used.  Through the light from tall round topped windows you can image the floating dust.

The 2nd floor of the mill shows the process from fleece to carding to spinning to weaving.  The ground floor shows the process of turning the first woven fabric into finished blankets and fine cloth.  And as you stroll, there are wheels slowly turning and belts silently moving ready have a gear lowered to once again engage them in the making of real, useful, necessary products.

It is good to look at what we made and how we made it and to reflect on what we are making these days.

The traditional costumes gives an insight to culture

The Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill in Salem is an amazing fabric museum with events, programs and exhibits.  We visited their current exhibit The Art And Tradition of Kimono which began September 21st and will be available until December 24th.

The Kimono is the national costume of Japan.  The exhibit features kimonos created during the early 20th century.  The geometric simplicity of the silk fabric's cut contrasts with the elegant floral designs or regular bright patterns.  The kimono seems to reflect the Japanese culture which values simple form intertwined with equally simple but dramatic designs.

Liz looking at Kimono underware

In a calm, quiet space the exhibit has several kimonos and pictures and information about how they were created.  We had the kimonos to ourselves to study and admire at our leisure.  There is a nice slide show of the kimono exhibit at the Heritage website.  But nothing like seeing the kimonos' vibrancy in person.

The Art and Tradition of Kimono exhibit is housed on the second floor of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill.  The Mill is close to a living museum, where you can walk among the machinery which skill works.  On the second floor landing the Mill is evident through windows.  Behind a discrete door the kimonos wait, floating on their stands, emblems of another time another culture.  Stepping into the exhibit from the big 19th century American style woolen mill is also an interesting contrast of cultures.

Donate to what is important to you

The annual gathering/auction/fundraiser of the Yamhill Watershed Stewardship Fund is Saturday November 10th.  It is an annual auction event, like so, so many other local groups who work on the needs of our community.  A long time member of the Stewardship Board Dave Hansen and a fellow artist on the Art Harvest Studio Tour sent out a poster for the Watersheds fundraiser.

In the past Dave has asked for donations and we have been happy to donate. Water and its watersheds is important to us.  This year before Dave could ask we asked him if he was collecting for the fundraiser.  He is.

Salter

I went into the studio looking for donations.  Who wanted to go help the Watersheds Fund?

Salter has been with me for a while and it was time to go out into the world and do some good.

To me Salter is a catlike creature who is patient and watchful.  A potential being of the watersheds.

Lock Nar

The studio is just recovering from the Art Harvest Tour and everything seems to have moved.    I looked for a companion for Salter.  Lock Nar has changed from a mild mannered uncle to a fierce guardian.  Paying attention.  Not to be messed with.  The Watersheds need to be paid attention to and they need to be guarded.

Hopefully Lock Nar will go home with someone on the evening of November 10th to hang at a special place and remind them that Watersheds are important.

Reviewing Grant Applications for Yamhill County Culture

Eve and Caryl reviewing grant applications

The grant cycle is upon us.  The Yamhill County Cultural Coalition grant committee met yesterday to review the applications for the coming year.

The Grant Committee, Eve Silverman, Caryl McIver, Deb Broocks and James Nelson and myself looked at projects primarily based in McMinnville and Newberg.  Although James was not at the committee meeting, he sent his comments in.  The projects ranged from writing, to music events, to art programs for seniors, to sign/music event for disabled, to programs for ethic groups, to historical excursions and more.

Eve Silverman, who is co-chair of the Grants Committee developed a very helpful spreadsheet of the applications, which made our work easier.

There never is enough money from the Oregon Cultural Trust to satisfy all of the needs.   The committee would love to recommend that Yamhill County Cultural Coalition board give everyone all of the money they asked for.  The Committee did its best to adjust grant recommendations to fit within the allocation that was given by the Cultural Trust, which was about $12,800.00 for 2013.

The Yamhill County Cultural Coalition Board will meet next week, Wednesday the 24th.  The Committee will give its recommendations.  The Board will discuss the grant applications and make its allocation decisions. The Grant funding announcements will likely go out to applicants in November.

I have been on the Yamhill County Cultural Coalition's Grant Committee for 4 or 5 years.  It is a wonderful experience to see the creative projects and to know that because of the generosity and the desire of Oregonians to have a vibrant cultural life, we can help culture here in Yamhill County.

Arts Alive appearance talking about Pottery

On October 18th we went down to the McMinnville Community Media studio to appear on Arts Alive the local arts and culture show.  Liz talked with host Lynda Phillippi first.  I posted the video of her.  I forgot to post my interview.

We talked about clay and pottery and the Art Harvest Studio Tour, of course.  The Tour was last weekend and the second weekend is coming up.

We had students on the Student/Education Studio Tour today.  They all seemed to come at once.  It was kind of frantic for awhile.  Still fun.

Art Harvest Student Education Studio Tour

Liz Santone demos felt making at her studio

The Art Harvest Studio Tour is on its 20th year.  For several years some of the Tour artists host an Art Harvest Student Education Studio Tour during the week between the regular weekend public Tour.

Today Liz and I hosted students from the Yamhill Carlton area.

Making a mask

Show youth how to make something from a fluff of wool or a lump of clay is a pleasure.

Making felt 

Some Tour artists across Yamhill County are opening their studios this Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday to demonstrate or talk about the art that they do.

Those who visit Liz get an extra surprise.  They get to have a hands-on experience of making felt and taking it home with them.

Because of the nature of clay, the students get to touch the clay and watch as I have all of the fun.  There is a magic in sharing a craft skill and the excitement of creating with young hearts.