Margi Hennen        

		Margi Hennen is my teacher. I have never taken a class from her, but I admire her and her work in an almost unspeakable way. We are a part of an artist's group (you have already met some of the other members - Valerie Hearder, Judy Martin and Penny Berens) which provides, support, inspiration and friendship. Margi brings knowledge, intelligence and wisdom to the group. She also adds spice with her marvelous wit.
All of the above qualities are apparent in her art as well. As you look at the examples of her work I am sure you will appreciate her particular "take" on the world. Her questions and conclusions and the "ladies" who represent them, leave me laughing or crying or sometime both. She knows that an older woman speaking through cloth can say important things. In her artist's statement from her recent exhibition at the Manitoba Crafts Council, "Outlook/Insight" she made the following observation: "The other day a woman from Ipsos-Reid called to do a survey paid for by the Government of Canada - but she only wanted to talk to someone between the ages of 18 and 65. What does that make me - Chopped grandma?" Well, this chopped grandma uses her age and her art form to make wise and wonderful statements. I hope you will enjoy getting to know my friend, Margi Hennen. - Mary Holdgrafer.

TITLE: Fallout Angel SERIES: War QUOTE: "I have little faith in the theory that organized killing is the best prelude to peace" Ellen Glasgow		TITLE: Mavis Searches in Vain for the name of a female archangel SERIES: Windows on their Souls QUOTE: "I often see through things right to the apparition itself." Grace Paley
TITLE: Upon hearing it was desirable to be cool, Priscilla immediately put an ice cube on her head QUOTE: "If you've got it, flaunt it."		TITLE: Perhaps earplugs are the only answer for Millicent SERIES: Women of Words QUOTE: "She was not a woman of many words; for unlike people in general, she proportioned them to the number of her ideas." Jane Austen

"My work is inspired by people, usually women, whose courage and fortitude I admire every day; by lush colours and by the sensuous hand of fabric and thread; and by the strange circumstances which together make up our everyday life. I don't try to be earth-shaking, but a little quiver would be good.

As Antonia Fraser once said, " of course there's no such thing as a totally objective person, except Almighty God, if She exists"----and I fall short of objectivity. Where I draw the line is at being boring, which I hope I never am.

Here's what I make: female figures out of fabric, some of which I have dyed, painted, discharged, and/or embroidered by hand or machine. I like the feeling of layers thus achieved - to me it represents the layers of experience in our lives (not to mention time). These small figures, once made, are embellished with ribbons, beads, buttons and any other little treasures I might have found in my travels around Winnipeg or the world. Recycling may be my most important function. Some of my current favourites are driven-over, rusted bottlecaps which have acquired a luscious patina during their winter sojourn under the snow.

The word "doll" raises its ugly head here. I call them "dolls" for lack of a better term, but it is a misleading one, as it causes most people to think of porcelain-headed antiques - not, I assure you, what I make. I prepared for this unorthodox pursuit by taking a BFA in Textile and Sculpture at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, graduating in 1987. This came after many years as a commercial artist, high school teacher, and domestic goddess.

My work has been published in periodicals in Australia, the USA, the UK, and in Holland, and in several books, the latest of which is Making Creative Cloth Dolls, by Marthe le Van (Lark). I have taught doll-making in Canada, the USA, and the UK, and lectured in the above as well as Australia and New Zealand.

The Society of Friends' booklet on Advice and Queries says:
"Every stage of our lives offers fresh opportunities. Approach old age with courage and hope. Although it may bring increasing disability and loneliness, it can also bring serenity, detachment and wisdom."
I may never achieve detachment, but I'm striving for serenity and wisdom".


but wait, there's more: see three more of Margi's dolls -
-  'Who says I'm too old to wear a toe ring'
-  'Mother warned me about fishnet stockings'
-  'I have to keep growing it - it's not quite long enough for the Prince to    climb'
http://www.beyondthesurface.com/leslie/us/items.asp?itemid=150
scroll down the page to select Margi's pieces from the left column.

see too, a detail of 'Floating Woman'
http://embroidery.embroiderersguild.com/2001-5/hennen.htm





You can reach Margi Hennen by email - msmargi@eastlink.ca