“I learned the needle arts and sewing from my mother, who learned from her mother, a very accomplished seamstress and needle worker. When I was studying music at the University of British Columbia, I was invited to view an exhibition of work of the Association of Northwest Weavers Conference on the campus. I did not know it was possible to make such beautiful cloth! From then on, I was hooked.
Going back to basics, I enrolled in a general art diploma program at Cariboo College in Kamloops, BC and for two years studied drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking and design to get back into the visual art field before applying to and being accepted to the weaving and textile program of the Alberta College of Art in Calgary, Alberta.
While in Calgary, I met my future husband, and after I graduated in 1980, we moved to a bison farm in central Alberta. From there, I met many weavers and spinners from around Alberta and was inspired by the people and the landscape.
In 1990, I was part of a group who were formed to develop a ‘Master’ weaving program for Olds College – a local agricultural college. Through the years this program has developed, changed, and morphed into the program that we are now presenting: The Olds College Master Weaver Program. I am very proud and honoured to have had the opportunity to grow and develop as a weaver, artist and educator along with it.”
Jean Biccum Curry is a Canadian weaver and fibre artist, who, until recently, divided her time between living on the family buffalo (bison) ranch in Alberta and their coastal home in British Columbia. She and her husband spend time cruising the BC coast on their boat, ‘Buffalo Gal’, and are enjoying retirement on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of BC. Her passion is an ongoing study of colour which has been greatly influenced by the landscape and light of the prairies and the coast. Currently, she is anxious for winter and some dyeing and weaving time to study value in greater depth.