Editor's Note:

Artist Becky Grass does have a studio, but she did not have a dye studio set up at the time of this article's publishing. She designs all of the patterns for her weavings. For this show, her patterns were influenced by those seen in the early 19th Century in the Appalachian Mountains region. These patterns originated in Germany, Scotland and Ireland before they were brought to the U.S. Grass has been teaching at Saint Louis University since 2008. She also taught at Southeast in fall 2010 and spring 2011. Please note that this exhibit contained weavings, not tapestries, which are a specific type of weaving.

On March 2 former student and professor Becky Grass presented her ten-piece art collection at the Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus Art Gallery.

Grass is a textile artist who uses a special thread to weave tapestries in a style similar to weavers of the past. She said it takes her about eight hours to complete each piece, which are about two feet tall and one-and-a-half feet wide. In her past collections, Grass designed and dyed her own patterns and threads before creating the weave itself. However, due to a recent move and lack of a studio, the weaves on display were created using patterns.

"These are all inspired by 19th century weaving drafts out of the Appalachia era from Germany, Scotland and England," Grass said.

Students, community members and relatives of Grass visited the show and partook of refreshments.

"You can see the amount of care the artists put into each piece," Southeast mental health counseling major Eric Ralfs said. "It's very carefully done."

Theresa, a Cape Girardeau native and Grass' cousin, compared the artist's work to her quilting hobby.

"I'm always looking for a pattern," Theresa said. "Whatever you can imagine in your mind, the artist may see something the viewer isn't even close to."

While Grass mingled with viewers, her husband Brian Grass, an artist as well, took pictures of the displayed work. He said he admires his wife's work.

"She understands the complexities of the patterns," Brian Grass said.

Grass attended Southeast as an undergraduate before continuing her education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for a Master of Fine Arts. After her studies she taught for two semesters at Southeast as an adjunct professor before she was hired as an adjunct professor at St. Louis University.

Grass's artwork is on sale for $200 to $300 per piece and will remain in the gallery until March 20. Interested buyers may contact the River Campus Art Gallery.