Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 14, 2021 ~ Special to the Advocate ~ Artist Focus featuring Betsey Cogswell By Melanie Messer Chiang B etsey Cogswell is a Malden-based fi ber artist. Her current favorite medium is wool. Most of her work in The Gallery@57 is wool felt in the form of scarves, pillow covers, felted beads and wall hangings. She also makes knitted and crocheted bowls and bracelets. Cogswell’s love of felting began when she bought some work from a master felter and thought to herself, “I want to do this.” Aside from workshops with master felter Martien Van Zuilen, a Dutch/Australian felt artist and historian and with Nuno felter Janice Kissinger, Cogswell is selftaught. Perhaps her love for wool can be attributed to the fact that the fi rst Cogswell in America was a wool merchant from Wiltshire, England. Wool is both fi re and water resistant. Humans have been making shelters, clothhas been used as a symbol of inclusion for decades, from Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition to more recent use of the rainbow by the LGBTQ community. Cogswell uses merino wool and other sheep’s wool fl eece or roving (unspun wool). She sometimes adds natural materials, such as mica, grass or milkweed fi ber, pieces of silk, yarn or silk and cotton thread. During the spring of 2020, she Betsey Cogswell ing, rugs and decorative objects from wool felt for millennia. Cogswell’s work was part of the fall 2019 Medford Art Center show. Her piece was a fi ne art piece in the spirit of inclusion, which was the focus of the show. Her piece was titled “Bridging the Rainbow.” Cogswell attributes her inspiration for the piece to how the rainbow ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $2.759 Mid Unleaded $2.879 Super $3.019 Diesel Fuel $2.899 "42 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2020 KERO $4.65 DEF $3.49 9 Diesel $2.569 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS worked on a project called “Pandemic Spring,” which refl ects the happenings and changes in her yard and garden. “Most of what I do is abstract. I’m thinking about colors and how they work together,” said Cogswell. Other than short stints in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Evanston and Chicago, Ill., Cogswell has lived her whole life in eastern Massachusetts. She retired from Harvard University in 2017. Betsey studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the old Radcliff e Landscape Design program, and she is currently printmaking at Maud Morgan Arts Center in Cambridge. She is also an avid canoeist who has paddled on the San Juan River in Utah, the Rio Grande, the Soper River in Nunavut, and, closer to home, the Malden River. Her work may be purchased at The Gallery@57 at 57 Pleasant St. in Malden, Mass., or online at www.galleryat57.com. The Gallery@57 sells Cogswell’s pillows, scarves, hats, wall hangings and jewelry. They also carry her pot holders, bowls and baskets. City celebrates Taiwanese American Heritage Week M ayor Gary Christenson declared the week of May 9-16 as Taiwanese American Heritage Week in Malden in honor of the many contributions of Taiwanese Americans to the diversity and prosperity of American society. The United States and Taiwan share a longstanding friendship and a common commitment to the ideals of democracy, freedom and human rights, and this week we celebrate the spirt of community that binds us. Mayor Gary Christenson presented a proclamation to Malden resident Chia-Chun Chung. (Photo Courtesy of the City of Malden) Century 21 North East THE SPRING MARKET IS IN FULL BLOOM! Contact me today to review properties on the market or for a FREE Market Value Analysis of Realtor Phil Terban C21Phil.com 781-864-4414 your home! ® The Malden Chamber of Commerce ready to welcome new members A re you someone who owns or works in a business in Malden or the surrounding communities who would like to expand your business network?Or, do you know a local business or organization who would benefit from Malden Chamber membership? Then please join us and invite your friends along to a New Member Virtual Event on June 10th 5:00 -6:30 pm on Zoom.You will learn about the Chamber and its members; make some new connections; and have some fun! Membership in the Chamber would help any business grow with advertising/promotion, advocacy, communications, education/enrichment, and networking opportunities. Contact Joan Ford Mongeau, Executive Director of the Malden Chamber of Commerce, to learn more or register at: director@maldenchamber.org.To view the membership application, visit www.maldenchamber.org. Current Chamber members did you know as the referring organization, you receive a $50 discount on your next Chamber dues bill? Prices subject to change Spring is around the Corner! FLEET
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