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Door County Art Scene: Primitive Rug Hooking Exhibit at UU Gallery

Beth Ciesar, featured artist for December at the UU Gallery, relates that she has “always had [my] fingers in art.” It began at the age of five, when her mom would put Beth and her two sisters on the bus for the Chicago Institute of Art. From that early beginning, Ciesar had a paintbrush in her hand until she graduated in Fine Arts from Purdue University.

She was destined to bring her art education to whatever setting she was in, whether interior design at Marshall Fields and Colbys’ of Chicago or as the owner of Founders’ Square in Fish Creek.

In 2001, the paintbrush was exchanged for a fiber hook. Still connecting with her sisters through art, the three women took a rug hooking class in Williamsburg and Ciesar was “hooked.” Since then she has created over 25 rugs.

Ciesar likes a “whimsical” look and has designed many of her own rugs, wall hangings, purses, pillows and art frames. Her folksy replication of a Fish Creek street and another humorous piece titled “Pioneer Woman” are amongst viewers’ favorites.

Ciesar continues to take classes on the East Coast, where the largest pick of hooking schools are, and from time to time, she will do commissioned pieces and give classes out of her home.

The public is invited to the UU Gallery, located at 10341 Hwy. 42, Ephraim, any Sunday following services from 11 am – 12:30 pm. Additional gallery hours are on Mondays, 1 – 3 pm. For more information, call 920.839.2606.