ARTIST PROFILE
Russ Mason
One of the winners at the Festival of the Arts last October was Russ Mason, a frequent participant. A series of hand-dyed and hand-woven rayon scarves garnered a share of the prizes: Best Use of Colour, Best Technique in Any Media, and Best Textile.
Russ Mason is a retired teacher/librarian who admits to being a weaver for more than the past twenty-five years. Currently, Russ is the Chair of the Algoma Weavers' Guild, the Sault Craft Association, and Wasoon (Weavers and Spinners of Ontario North) 2002. He was co-chair of the 28th Festival of the Arts and a members of the Algoma Festival Board. In addition, he will be the Northern Representative on the board of the Ontario Handweavers and Spinners. He has led workshops in Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Michigan for beginners and intermediate weavers on a wide variety of topics, including finger weaving.
Initially interested in weaving because of many tours of historical sites that all seemed to have a weaver's shed, he began to research into how a loom and its parts work together to make a woven structure. In many of the pioneer type weaves, a circular motif was seen. His interest was piquing – how do you throw a shuttle from one side of the loom to the other? And how does what appeared to be a circle show up as the design?
Fortunately for Russ, the Algoma Weavers Guild was offering a beginners course and lots of support. Through this association with the local weavers' guild, he has gained much knowledge and support. Members of the Guild willingly lent materials and assisted him as needed. Currently, he owns six looms. The largest is an 8-harness Leclerc that occupies a large portion of his home.
Russ, basically a self-taught functional weaver, has taken numerous
courses on specific weaves from weavers of note. Subscriptions to
several weaving magazines, frequent book purchases, as well as new
materials from all over the world, continue to hold his interest
and provide inspiration for the articles he produces. Recent weaving
has been done with copper wire as well as more exotic fibres. Presently
he is producing a series of hand-dyed multi-coloured silk, cotton,
and chenille scarves. The creative dying process adds another step
to his weaving. Russ has clearly found a long term satisfying pastime.
