Passion for the Creative Life Textiles: To Lift the Spirit

Mary Sheppard Burton is a storyteller, a treasured tradition-bearer who recounts the history and heritage of rural life in the early years of the twentieth century. Mary has taken a utilitarian craft and elaborated upon it to create works of art that are both personal and communal: vibrantly visual, exquisitely designed and crafted hooked rugs. Like all great folk artists, she creates for the pure joy of creativity, without regard to commerce or sales. This book illustrates well the joy and expansive beauty of her artistry and her role as community storyteller. Peggy A. Bulger, Director, American FolkLife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, DC