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Nel
was a regular participant in popular craft shows including Roxys, The
Mactaquac Craft Fair and Christmas Choice. Nel contributed greatly
to the art of weaving in Atlantic Canada where she was a Fellow and
Honorary Member of the New Brunswick Crafts Council. In recognition
of her accomplishments, she received both the prestigious Strathbutler
Award and the Kjeld and Erica Deichmann Award for Excellence in Craft in
1995. Most recently, the Sheila Hugh Mckay Foundation established a
scholarship in her name, to be awarded annually to a graduate of the
College of Craft and Design. Nel
is survived by her husband, Wouter (Jack), children, Karin and her husband
Frank, Michiel, Peter and his wife Amy, six grandchildren and two great
grandchildren. |
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Nel
Blink Oudemans, a nationally recognized weaver, passed away at her
home in Fredericton on January 4, 2002 after a battle with cancer.
She was 83.
Originally
from The Netherlands, Nel was active in the Dutch underground during the
Second World War. In 1947 she married Wouter Oudemans and immigrated
to New Brunswick.
Nel
began her weaving career in Sweden where she attended Saterglantan weaving
school. In the late 1940s she taught weaving at the New Brunswick Crafts
School. After raising her three children, she then devoted full time
to her craft. Her weavings, including jackets, shawls, blankets, tapestries
and reproductions of historical pieces have found their way into many
homes, museum and permanent collections. |
A
celebration of Nel’s life will be held on February 16, 2002 in the Memorial
Hall at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton at 2:00 p.m. In
honour of Nel's dedication to the arts in New Brunswick a fund has been
established that will be used to support and promote young artisans in the
province.
Contributions
to this fund can be sent to: The Nel Oudemans Fund, The New Brunswick
Foundation for the Arts, c/o Denise Violette, 634 Queen Street, Suite 300
Fredericton, NB, E3B 1C2, Canada |