Light and Material

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Nel Oudemans (1918-2002) was a gifted textile artist who was born in the Hague, Netherlands. As a young woman, she first attended the Karen Prestgard School of Weaving in Heidal, Norway and afterwards, sought further training at the Saterglantan School in Sweden. Oudemans' immigrated to Canada after WWII where upon arrival, she and her husband travelled east to New Brunswick.

Nel Oudemans became a well known and respected weaving instructor at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. By way of her weaving, as well as through her volunteer work and teaching, Nel Oudemans played a significant role in igniting a passion for hand-weaving in New Brunswick during the later part of the 20th century.

In this book, the story of Nel Oudemans' life is woven together with those of other artists, educators and entrepreneurs from Atlantic Canada who, together, were part of a vibrant period in the artistic development of textiles the region.

The Sheila Hugh Mackay Foundation established the Nel Oudemans Award in 2002. It is gifted annually, in honour of the esteemed weaver, to an emerging New Brunswick artist in recognition of artistic excellence.

With the long-awaited publication of this book, Nel Oudemans' story is being celebrated for the first time in print.