In The Sunroom: From Pen to Hook

On display now through October 26, 2019 in The Sunroom at Central Library, From Pen to Hook features work by Penny Lighthall. 

From Pen to Hook is a series of hand hooked rugs inspired by the poetry of Pulitzer Prize Poet, Elizabeth Bishop. While having been born in 1911 in Massachusetts, Elizabeth spent her early years and summers at her grandparents’ home in Great Village, Nova Scotia. She travelled all over the globe writing poetry, prose, short stories and was also a visual artist.

Elizabeth wrote 101 poems in her lifetime and 20 of those books have been the inspiration to create two exhibits by Penny.

About the artist

When she was a child, Penny’s grandmother taught her how to rug hook, but it wasn’t until she was in her mid 30s that Penny took up the craft seriously. Penny is the founder of the Remsheg Rug Hookers, which is a mother group to 6 other rug hooking groups in northern Nova Scotia.

In the past, she has been a member of several craft co-operatives, and participated in several group shows. She maintains memberships in several rug hooking groups, Craft Nova Scotia, and upcycling groups. She is also a vendor at the Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a teacher at the Fibre Festival of Nova Scotia in Amherst, and is the Instigator of the Upcycled Mania Expo in Truro.

This exhibit is the second in her From Pen to Hook Series.