Sue McFarland began the journey of exploring fiber as artistic expression in 1982 as a hand weaver. In 2004 she apprenticed with a local felt maker and expanded her repertoire to include both two and three dimensional felt work. She maintains a working fiber studio in Conway, MA where she produces both functional accessories, sculptural and hanging work. Everything she makes is designed, fabricated and finished by her own hand.
Sue has a degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in painting and attended the Art Institute of Boston. She has a BA in Arts Administration from UMass/Amherst and received an MEd from Lesley University in the Creative Arts & Learning Program. Her focus was on integrating the visual and fiber arts into traditionally academic disciplines. As an educator, Sue has taught 2D design, color theory and fiber arts on the secondary school level. She has been an artist in residence at local schools and conducted professional development workshops for adult educators on the use of fiber arts in school curricula. Sue studied VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) under Philip Yenawine,former curator of education at the Museum of Modern Art, NYC. She uses VTS to help students develop critical thinking skills through the observation of artwork. Her designs have been published in Handwoven, the Interweave Press journal for weavers.Sue still maintains a limited schedule of artisan fairs where she sells her functional accessories.
