Carlene Harwick

2007 Lifetime Achievement Awardee

Carlene Harwick was certified by the Valentine Museum as a teacher of Canvas Embroidery, winning their Honors Scholarship at the completion of certification. She held Judges’ Certification from NAN, where she served as the Director of Judges’ Certification as well as the Director of Education. Carlene held Senior Master Teacher credentials with the American Needlepoint Guild and was a past chairman of the program. She served on the ANG national board as Vice President for Education, where she promoted quality judging and teaching of needlearts. In addition, she served ANG as Chairman of both the Master Needle Artist Program and the Needleart Appraisal Program. Carlene was a certified Graduate Teacher with the Embroiderers Guild of America, Inc. and was a recipient of the Lake Sainte Clair Award by the Great Lakes Region, EGA, for service to the region. She began teaching in 1980 and judging in 1990, including national, regional and local exhibitions and seminars.

Lady Mack by Carlene Harwick, 2013. Inspired by the work of Charles Rennie MacIntosh.

“After traveling to Scotland in 2004, I became interested in the Architecture of Art of Charles Rennie Mackintosh which was especially evident in Glasgow. Mackintosh was a ‘total’ artist. He not only created unusual and unique buildings, he designed furniture, friezes, watercolor paintings, stencils, fabrics, and tiles. He seems to visualize not only the outside (the building) but the interior within that building.

“Some of his most unique and creative designs were of women and were influenced by a fellow artist, Margaret Macdonald, who eventually became his wife. As he grew closer to Margaret, he began to create was was termed as ‘mystical work’. He later said, “Margaret is a genius; I have only talent.”

“This embroidery is adapted from one of Mackintosh’s paintings, “Part Seen, Imagined Part”. Charles presented this token to Margaret as a key statement of his commitment to her – seen and imagined, four years before their marriage. It contains more layers than meets the eye, with the plant’s femininity only revealed within the light of the masculine sun. She treasured this gift all of her life. Roses and willow leaves are featured in many of Mackintosh’s paintings and have been included in this one.“