A Lifetime Design: The Needlework of Margaret Fischer

The Dacotah Prairie Museum displayed a new exhibit, “A Lifetime Design: the Needlework of Margaret Fischer”. The display of needlepoint, counted cross-stitch and crewel opened June 1st and remained open on 2nd floor through July 30, 2006. The exhibit included over 160 pieces of framed needlework created by Margaret Fischer of Ipswich, SD, and was featured in the Helen Bergh Education room, the Dacotah Gallery, the east hallway exhibit space and the Lamont Gallery.

Margaret Fischer was born on a farmstead northeast of Ipswich, in 1914 and is the third youngest of 15 children. Her parents were born in Germany, moved to Russia and eventually immigrated to the US, settling in the Ipswich area. Margaret attended country school through eighth grade. It was there she discovered her love of art and her talent in that area. Several of her works were selected by the county superintendent for use in an exhibit of art from the area country schools.

Margaret started doing needlework at age five or six when she began sewing doll clothes. She eventually learned how to knit and do needlepoint, hobbies she devoted her full time efforts to after her retirement in 1981. Her first works were printed patterns, but she became so proficient at them that she decided to add more free hand components to the patterns. Her later works reflect her talent for free-hand needlework and are almost all self designed.

Margaret’s collection of needlework art numbers over 225 pieces, the majority of which have been donated to the Dacotah Prairie Museum. Over 160 pieces which are already framed were included in this show.

According to Margaret, “It was of utmost importance to me to make sure that this legacy was taken care of and kept together. This represents my lifetime artistic achievement.”

For information on past exhibits in the Lamont Gallery, please click here