The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is pleased to announce Ann Winterling as the recipient of the 2015 Governor’s Arts Award in Folk Arts. Ann Winterling is a master of the traditional art of New England rug hooking, a craft that dates to the early 1800s. A history of the craft shares the efforts of ordinary women to bring beauty, comfort, and warmth into their homes.
Ann has been
hooking
rugs for over 40 years beginning as a young mother when she took classes
from the late Hallie Hall. She hooked with Hallie, who had learned
from her own grandmother, for over twenty years. In reflecting on her
years
with Hallie, Ann recalled that, “It was so inspiring and uplifting to go
there
for class . . . After a while we had all learned to hook but we just
couldn’t
stop meeting together and doing things together.” Ann also studied with other well known traditional fiber artists
including Mary Sheppard Buron, and Mary Anne Wise. She in turn has
generously
shared her cumulative knowledge with countless others throughout New
England and the east coast. 
Today, Ann's work is
well respected throughout New Hampshire, New England, and nationally. Her fine craftsmanship is noted for her ability to create
personal, yet iconic, images of the New England life. Her work has been
included in shows at the Museum of Folk Art in New York City,
the Cahoon Museum of Folk Art in Massachusetts,
the Worcester Center
for Craft, the League of NH Craftsmen, and she was one of three featured traditional artists at a recent exhibit at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont. Ann has been featured for her artistry and
leadership in New Hampshire Magazine,
Rug Hooking Magazine, the newsletter
for the Association of Traditional Hooking Artists (ATHA), as well as numerous
articles and publications featuring the tradition of hooked rugs. 
A total of 6 awards will be
presented by Governor Maggie Hassan at a celebration on October 21 from
5-7pm at the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester. - Arts Education Award: Calvin Herst, Concord and Anna Nuttall, Portsmouth
- Distinguished Arts Leadership Award: Melissa Richmond, Director, West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts
- Folk Heritage Award: Ann Winterling, Concord
- Individual Arts Patron Award: Meri Goyette, Nashua
- Lotte Jacobi Living Treasure Award: Jere Osgood, Wilton
