• A Program of Study

1. ATA Mentoring Program - by Priscilla Lynch

There is much to learn in becoming a successful tapestry weaver.  Today's artist/weaver strives for excellence not only in technique but also in design.  Local guilds, schools, and state and regional conferences often offer introductory tapestry classes and workshops but rarely fill the needs of the intermediate and more advanced students for further study.  To offer the opportunity for continuing education, ATA has developed a mentoring program, based on the successful HGA Teaching and Learning through Correspondence (TLC) program.  The description and goals of the program are outlined below.  If you want to study a tapestry topic in depth, but aren't sure how to go about it, consider submitting an application.  If you like to teach and guide eager students, consider volunteering to mentor.  We hope that this program will meet some of our membership's needs and encourage you to participate and provide feedback on this new program.

Description and Goals for ATA's Mentoring Program

The mentoring program is designed for intermediate tapestry weavers (able to warp a loom and have woven several small tapestries or samplers) who want to pursue an in depth study of a tapestry topic with guidance and mentoring from a more experienced tapestry weaver.  This is meant to be a self directed and well-defined program of study.  Students are encouraged to narrow the range of study so that it can be completed within one year.    To enroll, interested students submit an application form and $30 administrative fee to the mentoring committee chair.  The chair matches the student with a mentor.  The student, with guidance from the mentor, decides on the specific course of his/her study.  Any expenses incurred - postage, phone calls etc. are the sole responsibility of the student.  Mentors are volunteering their valuable time and students need to be considerate of this.

Student's Responsibilities
The student is expected to meet the following study objectives: 1) A one year time commitment (which could be extended by mutual agreement); 2) Able to submit title and description for an in-depth, well-defined study project; 3) Prepare a list of realistic goals and objectives to complete in 1 year; 4) Describe any finished project that you hope to complete; 5) Propose a timetable for submitting samples, drawings etc.; 6) Pay for any expenses incurred during the program; and 7) Submit a final report to the ATA Mentoring Committee.

Mentor's Responsibilities
The mentor is expected to work with the student/mentor in the following ways: 1) A one year time commitment (which could be extended by mutual agreement); 2) Help the student set realistic goals for this 1 year time frame; 3) Provide direction, support and expertise as the student requires; 4) Recommend additional sources for information and research; 5) Evaluate progress during the course of study by critique; and 6) Submit a final report to the ATA Mentoring Committee.

Application for Mentoring Study Program
Each student/mentor must submit the following information in your letter of application. In this letter of application, please state the following clearly: a) Name; b) Address; c) Telephone (day and eve); and d) Email. Then write one or two paragraphs to answer these questions: 1) What is your tapestry weaving educational experience - workshops, classes, years weaving, number of tapestries completed, sizes of the works. 2) What specific tapestry topic would you like to study? and 3) Why are you interested in this topic of study?
Include an administrative fee:  $30 check or money order payable to American Tapestry Alliance Please send the information to Priscilla Lynch, P.O. Box 340, Saugatuck, MI 49453. For questions contact Priscilla Lynch at jplynch@iserv.net 

2. See our Links section for a list of Learning Opportunities.

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• Regional Groups

In the US and Canada there are several Regional groups of tapestry artists. The following is a list of groups. Some of them have contact information, and some of them don't. We will try to give such information when we can confirm that it is accurate.

• British Columbia Society of Tapestry Artists (BCSTARS)
• Canadian Tapestry Network (CTN)
• Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound (TAPS)
• Tapestry Weavers in New England (TWiNE)
• Tapestry Weavers South (TWS)
• Tapestry Weavers West (TWW)

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• Galleries (check our Links page)

• Etherington Fine Art, Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts (Julia Mitchell)
• Gail Martin Gallery, New York, NY (James Bassler, Archie Brennan, Michael Rohde)
• Prime Gallery, Toronto, Ontario (Jane Kidd)
• Weaving Southwest, Taos, New Mexico

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• Collections (check our Links page)

When we have a good list of collections that the general public can have access to, we will publish some part of that list here.

• Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco - de Young - Legion

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