Thiessen & Berggren: Folk Art Creations in Fiber and Wood

May 17 – September 4, 2016
Fiber artist Jean Thiessen and woodcarver Eric Berggren were 20th century Nebraska folk artists who created small but important bodies of work during their lifetimes. Thiessen, active in the 1900s to 1930s, crafted stunning on-edge felt rugs with compositions ranging from a self-portrait to still-life work and abstract designs. Berggren, active from mid-century to the 1970s, carved small- to large-scale wood sculptures that contain narratives of imagined stories, folk tales, or family histories. Both artists utilized materials that were readily available to them to create masterpieces that were both functional as well as aesthetic triumphs. The artworks in this exhibition are from MONA’s collection or on loan from the Plainsman Museum in Aurora, Nebraska.