Mary Tooley Parker is an accomplished textile artist known for her realistic interpretations of people and nature, drawing inspiration from memories, local history, and visual imagery. Her art seamlessly blends new and recycled materials, including wool, cotton, silk fabric, fleece, handspun yarn, silk fiber, metallic fibers, and more. Employing both natural and synthetic dyes, Parker masterfully creates a diverse palette of colors tailored to her artistic vision.

Recognizing the distinct reception of textile art, Parker understands that it engages viewers in a unique manner, stimulating a different part of the brain. Textile art, especially through the tactile sense of touch, evokes a sense of warmth and familiarity even before the visual image is fully processed. Working primarily in the medium of rug hooking, Parker feels a profound connection not only to the fibers under her fingertips but also to the historical significance of women expressing themselves through fiber arts during challenging times.

In her artistic practice, Parker elevates rug hooking from a utilitarian craft to a contemporary art form. This tradition, rooted in the resourcefulness of previous generations, is skillfully adapted to reflect her 21st-century experience.

This exhibition unfolds the transformative journey embodied in Mary Tooley Parker's textile art—a seamless fusion of craft and artistry. Through years of dedicated exploration, Parker's mastery of textile techniques has blossomed into a profound learning experience. Breaking the boundaries of materials, subjects, and expression in hooked rugs, she skillfully incorporates a diverse array of elements. From the nuanced use of natural and synthetic dyes to shape her color palettes, to the integration of unconventional materials such as silk, handspun yarn, metallic film ribbon, bicycle streamers, shoelaces, and more, Parker's showcased work epitomizes the harmonious convergence of traditional craftsmanship and innovative artistic expression.