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California Rug Project
The Making of a Masterpiece
California’s Stories Woven into a Masterwork
The California Rug is dominated by the seated figure of Queen Califia surrounded by various scenes depicting the rich cultural history of the Golden State. To create the 5′x15′ tapestry, California artist Vicki Fraser collected over 50 miles of Central Valley cotton along with fleece from 50 different breeds of California-raised sheep. She then hand-dyed the fiber using all local plants to further support her grand vision.
The Project
The California Rug is dominated by the seated figure of Queen Califia surrounded by various scenes depicting the rich cultural history of the Golden State. To create the 5′x15′ tapestry, California artist Vicki Fraser collected over 50 miles of Central Valley cotton along with fleece from 50 different breeds of California-raised sheep. She then hand-dyed the fiber using all local plants to further support her grand vision.
The Artist’s Technique
Made exclusively from California plant and protein fiber, and dyed using only local plants, the California Rug was woven on a handmade loom constructed of salvaged wood from Humboldt County. The piece was hand-knotted and took 14 years to complete.
Vicki Fraser, Fiber Artist
Born in 1944 in Merced, California, and educated around the world, Vicki Fraser studied textile art at the Central London Institute in London, England.
In 1982, she worked as a restorer at Oriental Carpet Restoration in London, where she apprenticed under skilled craftsmen and honed the Ghiordes knotting technique employed in the making of the California Rug.