Aston Tapestry


My tapestries tell stories. They start out telling a story about my life and end up telling a story about human kind.
The style of my design comes from my Nordic background. Nordic tapestry has a folk art tradition that is more representational and "flat." Colors are limited and used carefully. The fabric is structurally sound with the use of multiple kinds of joins versus slits. The weaving is complex with the use of outlining and patterns. Scandinavian weavings from way back tell stories.

Biography:

Susan Gangsei has been weaving since 2002. Her tapestry journey began October, 2004 with a Vesterheim tapestry class taught by master weaver Nancy Jackson. Since that time, Susan has had regular one-on-one instruction from Nancy to advance her skills in tapestry techniques, fabric quality, cartooning and design.

Other classes taken are:

•	Rutevev Weaving, Jan Mostrom instructor, MN Weavers Guild
•	Krokbragd and Boundweave Weaving, Jan Mostrom instructor, MN Weavers Guild
•	Beginning Tapestry, Trudy Bessler instructor, MN Weavers Guild
•	Fjords & Fields - Nordic Joins, Archie Brennan & Susan Maffei instructors, MN Weavers Guild
•	Observational Drawing, Megan Vossler instructor, Minneapolis College of Art & Design
•	Sketching in the Galleries - Composition and Principles of Design, Ken Wexler instructor, Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Susan's work has been exhibited annually at Vesterheim National Exhibition for Folk-Art in the Norwegian Tradition. In 2007, Susan's tapestry "Slaying Your Dragon" earned a blue ribbon and People's Choice awards.

Susan teaches Beginning Tapestry at Versterheim Norwegian American Heritage Museum, Decorah, IA.

Susan's work is currently being sold in Minneapolis at the Nina Bliese Gallery. It is also exhibited at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN.

Degrees:

M.A. Industrial Relations, University of MN, 1980. Concentration in Training and Development. M.B.A., University of St. Thomas, 1997.