PROFILES

Image Gallery PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR

Vickie Cole: Fiber Artist

Vickie Cole devotes her time to the design and production of woven works of art. A former anthropology major who started weaving in 1969, Vickie is slowly gaining recognition as a professional weaver.

In her studio near Wasilla, Alaska, Cole crafts a variety of items, from clothing fabric to wall hangings. Vickie spins much of the yarn needed for her work. She uses an assortment of fibers, and notes that each has a "unique feel." Unusual yarns are made from such materials as dog hair from her own St. Bernard and shorn human locks. Cole has also carded and spun chinchilla, bear, and buffalo fur, as well as the musk-ox's qiuiut, which yields a "very, very warm yarn."

Vickie shares her expertise with students at Matanus-ka-Susitna Community College near Palmer, Alaska. Her weaving classes include instruction in dyeing yarn, and students experiment with a number of natural substances—including banana peels and cabbage leaves—to obtain desired shades.

Vickie's weavings can be found in the permanent collections of several museums. One of her wall hangings, on loan to the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, hangs in the embassy at Brasilia. Through her enthusiasm and dedication, Vickie is not only receiving personal acclaim but also helping to instill respect for an art that many have regarded as only an interesting hobby.— Lucille T. Frey.

Patrick Giantonio: A Journey for the Hungry

Patrick Giantonio's urge to wander has taken him across the North American continent and to many exotic lands. While visiting India, Southeast Asia, and Africa, Patrick frequently journeyed through areas plagued by starvation. His repeated encounters with hungry children made him determined to find a way to help alleviate world hunger. When he settled in Woodstock, New York, Giantonio became an active participant in Wood-stock People Against Hunger. His involvement with that organization taught him that one person's efforts can indeed make a difference.

Patrick realized that his love for travel could be put to good use, and he made plans to take to the road once again. On January 1, 1984, he set out from Mombasa, Kenya, and Patrick's Walk to End Starvation began.

Giantonio is now in the midst of his two-year trek across the continent of Africa. One purpose of his journey is to inspire others to work toward overcoming the problem of world hunger. But the walk also has a more concrete goal: to combat malnutrition by providing lifesaving information and materials.