Stepping Out

A joint exhibit entitled “Tapestry: A Weaving Art” at the Frances Anderson Center (700 Main Street, Edmonds) features work by weavers Marielle Snyder and the late Gloria Mae Campbell. 

The Edmonds Arts Commission and the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation are pleased to present this exhibit that may be viewed during building hours, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Aug. 3 – Sept. 13.

Marielle Snyder, whose tapestry weavings are on display in the EAFM Gallery, draws inspiration from a variety of subject matter – from soul searching, to undersea life, to ocean voyages. 

Most of the pieces are done in traditional materials: cotton warp (the stationary part, strung on the loom) and wool weft (the part woven back and forth).

Several pieces – the ones about ocean voyages – contain recycled plastic bags, old sailing charts and bamboo garden stakes.

Snyder received her art education at the Seattle Academy of Fine Art and in the studios of Nancy Jackson and Lois Purdom.

Her tapestries have been exhibited in group and solo exhibits in Washington, Oregon, California and the Midwest.  She currently lives on Bainbridge Island.

Gloria Mae Campbell was a long-time resident of Edmonds and remained active in life and art until she passed away in 2009.

She was also active in the community, serving on the Edmonds Arts Commission from 1981-1988, and with the Seaview Weavers Guild.

Her work is featured in the EAC Display Case in the Anderson Center front entrance.


Campbell received an M.F.A. from the Art Institute of Chigaco and was a textile designer for Cannon Mills.

After her marriage she started her own design business and for the past 32 years, devoted her artistic energy to designing and weaving tapestries using traditional European methods and materials (flax and wool).

Like Marielle Snyder, the natural world was her inspiration – gardens, landscapes and the sea life of the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. 

Her strengths lay in design composition and use of color.  Subtle changes in weave structure and knotting techniques add interest to her pieces which each took up to a year to complete.

The work of each of these fine weavers has been featured in books and publications on the subject.