South County Museum
Rhode Island's Coastal Legacy

Members of the Rhode Island Weavers Guild presented a well-attended lecture, slide show and exhibit of the amazingly intricate and original weaving art of Bertha Gray Hayes on July 11.
Hayes, who was born in 1878 and died in 1947, worked six days a week for the Providence Gas Company beginning in 1931, and spent many early morning and late evenings practicing her art.
Some examples of her patterns are on display in the museum's Metz Exhibit Building through June 29.

Hayes used a Structo loom, not much larger than a toy, same as the one shown at right. The surprise of the show was a pair of dolls (left), and a sketch for a third. Hayes lived for a time in Massachusetts in an apartment over a family that had three young daughters. The dolls were inspired by her friendship with the daughters. The dolls came to the museum (on loan) from one of the daughters, still living in Narragansett, by way of the guild.
Below are a few examples of her art, as woven by members of the guild. (Click on a picture for a closer look.) Note the titles: they were of her time and often whimsical.

A gamp of several patterns.
Woven by Norma Smayda.
Remembrance.
Woven by Michele O'Donnell.
Stars of Victory.
Woven by Evelyn Cherms.
Gone with the Wind
Woven by Norma Smayda.

Remembrance.
Woven by Michele O'Donnell.
Super Highway
Woven by Donna Wild
Remembrance & Springtime Fancy
Woven by Norma Smayda