Twins featured at FMAAA in September

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BY BRIAN RIGGS

FMAAA Director

FORT MADISON - As fraternal twins Linda and Lois have many things in common. Both taught art education for 44 years, an incredible achievement. Linda primarily in Illinois at Hamilton High School and Lois primarily in Iowa at Ft. Madison Public and HTC. Both graduated from Graceland University in La Moine, IA in 1974. From the beginning the twins have been entwined. See how they weave among each other with reception on September 14th from 5-7pm. As the FMAAA offers more musical overtures, an experience trio will be playing showtunes at sections of the reception. Show sponsored by Ft. Madison Community Hospital.

Of course there are some variables in the Twins. Linda is left handed. Lois is right handed. Linda prefers teaching high school, while Lois prefers 4-6 grade. Linda’s go-to mediums are stained glass, jewelry, watercolor, and photography. Lois gravitates to textiles, sewing, and spinning her own wool. She also loves recycled art. Lois was the instigation behind FMAAA launching the popular Budding Artist Show, which features k-8 grade students in the month of January.

Linda Hardy just retired from Hamilton High School and plans to get a studio going to teach “all things glass” especially stained glass and mosaics. Her interest in jewelry making began at age 10 at the urging of her great grandmother. Linda’s daughter Crailin started selling at an early age at the Allyn House in Nauvoo. Upon graduation Crailin worked as jewelry designer for Bradford Exchange Collectibles. The fruit doesn’t fall far from a tree.

Lois di Prima spins yarns, literally and figuratively. She loves to work with raw fleece and tease and spin the wool into yarn. She has an installation in the exhibit showcasing many of her skills. An 1840’s style dress all hand stitched with methods from that era with a boned type hoop indicative of the time period. Next to the dress is a dutch oven, which if a cooking style that is her forte. She owns 113 pieces of cast iron that can cook anything from breakfast to dessert.

Longer than teaching the Twins have been Pioneer Craft specialists at the Joseph Smith Historic site in Nauvoo. Both were babtized at 8 years old at Community of Christ church in Nauvoo and have been active ever since. When not reenacting, the Twins act as guides for the Visitor’s Center. The Twins will speak at Lunch-ala-Art program on September 28th at noon. Register at 372-3996 for $7 lunch and learn. Viewing available all month Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm

art center, exhibit, FMAAA, fort madison, Linda Hardy, Lois di Prima, Pen City Current

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