Vermont designer/weaver Elinor Steele Friml will display examples representing 40 years of dedication to the art of contemporary hand-woven tapestry. The exhibit will include works from several of her series, including abstract and impressionistic images, landscapes and geometric compositions.
Steele combines a strong sense of color and composition with meticulous craftsmanship to create her tapestries. Working from a small scale printed color drawing and a full sized “cartoon” or line pattern she interprets her designs while weaving by hand on a high-warp loom using traditional tapestry techniques. Combining several strands from a large palette of wool yarns to achieve the desired colors and gradients, she takes full advantage of the rich tone and texture that are inherent in the medium.
The award-winning artist has been represented in national and international exhibitions and has been commissioned to create numerous works for corporate, healthcare and residential settings. She studied Fine Art at the University of New Hampshire and Tapestry at the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland.  With creative interests in music and theater as well as art, she currently manages the Jackson Gallery and Town Hall Theater Box Office in Middlebury, and is scenic artist for the Opera Company of Middlebury.
Friml’s tapestries will be on exhibit in the Jackson Gallery from Feb. 10-March 31, with an opening reception on Friday, Feb. 16, from 5-7 p.m. The Jackson Gallery is located in the lower level of Town Hall Theater. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 12-5 p.m., and an hour before any public events in the building. For more info call (802) 382-9222 or visit townhalltheater.org.