The Tapestry Arts of Rowen Schussheim-Anderson: Creating a Fiber Symphony

Rowen Schussheim-AndersonRowen Schussheim-Anderson has been pushing the boundaries of traditional tapestry weaving for over two decades. Her studies in New York and Arizona put her in touch with both time-honored fine arts and indigenous craft traditions. Cloth in our culture does not bear historical or religious significance, as with many indigenous peoples; nor do we often recognize the power of textiles as clothing for the body and soul. Schussheim-Anderson’s tapestries explore the power of textiles as bearers of meaning—thick, embellished warps tangled and rich enough to hold the meaning and power of messages.

Rowen Schussheim-Anderson produces woven tapestries both large and small, wall-mounted and suspended forms. A recent focus has been incorporating beads and beaded strands into her tapestries. An adept student at studying the heart of indigenous weaving traditions, her textile studies have spanned two continents in actuality–and all seven virtually. From the fine-drawn resist lines of Indonesian batik, to the tufted raffia weaves of the Zaire River Basin, to the heights of Guatemala and the woven threads of tie-dyed warp ready for ikat—each tradition and its accompanying colors and techniques have served to inform these contemporary tapestries. It is these works that comprise the present Fiber Symphony in Tapestryart. Stay tuned…

ROWEN SCHUSSHEIM-ANDERSON…

  • Augustana College, Chair, Art Department
  • Exhibits tapestries internationally
  • Creates commissions for public and private collections
  • Also taught at Arizona State University, The Smithsonian Institution
  • Visiting Artist~Artist-in-Education, National Endowment for the Arts
  • Panelist~Illinois Arts Council
  • Work featured in American Craft, Fiberarts

AWARDS…

  • QC International Airport, Moline, IL. Rowen Schussheim-Anderson and Steve Sinner 2002
  • Voted 2nd Best Exhibition of the Year, QC Online/Dispatch Reader’s Poll 2002
  • 51st Annual Quad-State Juried Exhibition 2001 MERIT AWARD
  • Octagon Center for the Arts 1999 BEST OF SHOW
  • Geneseo Art League 1999 JUDGE’S RECOGNITION
  • Paper/Fiber XVI 1993 MERIT AWARD
  • Topeka Competition 17 CASH AWARD

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS…

  • The State Department (D.C.)
  • The IBM Corporation (AZ)
  • Scottsdale Center for the Arts (AZ)
  • Trinity Medical Center (IL)
  • Davenport Cement Company (IA)
  • Ramada Inn Corporation (NJ)
  • Augustana College Library (IL)
  • Augustana Student Activities Building (IL)
  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
  • Rock Island Public Library (IL)
  • Harper College (IL)
  • Federal Home Loan Bank Board (DC)
  • Arrowmont School of Crafts (TN)
  • Bettendorf Public Library (IA)
  • Security State Bank (IA)
  • Genesis Health Systems (IA)
  • Triumph Consultants (IA)