Vesterheim Instructors Featured at PBS Pioneer
Vesterheim instructors Robbie LaFleur and Laura Demuth have been featured on PBS Pioneer.
Pioneer PBS is based in Granite Falls, Minnesota, and is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world.
Robbie LaFleur is a Vesterheim Gold Medal Winner who has been following a thread of Scandinavian textiles since she studied weaving at Valdres Husflidskole in Fagernes, Norway, in 1977. She has continued her study with Scandinavian instructors in Norway and the United States. Her projects include interpreting Edvard Munch’s Scream painting into a variety of textile techniques, weaving tapestry portraits of her relatives, and continuing exploration of various Norwegian coverlet techniques.
Laura Demuth has been a weaver for over 40 years and enjoys all aspects of fiber production, from raising the sheep to taking a finished piece off the loom. Because she lives on a small acreage just seven miles northeast of Decorah, Vesterheim has been a continual source of education and inspiration throughout her weaving career. Laura has focused on traditional weaving structures and techniques, and is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist. She has taught classes in traditional Scandinavian weave structures at Vesterheim and John C. Campbell Folk School.
Check out more Robbie LaFleur videos on Vesterheim’s YouTube channel here.