Exhibition Statement: Faith G. Williston’s love for different forms of artistic expression allows for the exploration of medium contrasts through oil painting and rug hooking. These art forms provide opportunities to experiment with color, shape, and texture in creative and exciting ways, painting with wool. Evidence suggests that the Vikings introduced rug hooking to Scotland in the 8th century, and by the 19th century it had become a popular craft in England. Workers in weaving mills repurposed wool fabric scraps into bed coverings, and later, as homes changed from dirt floors to wooden ones, rugs served both warmth and decoration. Over time, rug hooking developed into the unique and beautiful art form it is today.

Williston uses 100% wool fabric and a strong linen foundation, emphasizing high-quality materials and careful craftsmanship to ensure each piece endures. Though rug hooking may have started as a practical craft, it has become a powerful way to create art. This exhibition has been put together to teach and share rug hooking, highlighting the variety of techniques and creative steps involved, specifically: designing patterns, color planning, dyeing wool, cutting strips, hooking each piece, and finishing the edges. In her textile art, Williston paints with wool. Just as an oil painter uses a brush, she uses fabric and texture to bring ideas to life.

Artist Biography: Faith G. Williston is a textile artist and painter whose creative journey blends traditional craft with a fine arts background. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Auburn University, where oil painting became her first passion. While raising three young sons, she discovered rug hooking—a medium that allowed her to create while balancing family life. This discovery sparked a lifelong dedication to the art form, offering new ways to combine color, texture, and design.

For over 30 years, Williston has taught rug hooking and color theory across North America, sharing her expertise and enthusiasm. Her work has been featured in Rug Hooking Magazine Celebrations, Rug Hooking Monthly Magazine, Creative Rug Hooking by Ann Mather, and Hooked Rugs of the Deep South by Ann Mather. She has exhibited widely, including the Naval War College in Rhode Island and the Mary O’Keefe Arts Center in Mississippi, earning honors such as Best in Show at the National McGown Traditional Rug Show and selection for the 2024 Mississippi Art Colony Spring Traveling Show.

Working from her home studio, Williston continues to create textile and oil paintings, honoring the traditions of rug hooking while reimagining it as a vibrant, contemporary art form.