Reimagining retired fishing rope: Rebecca Hooper Weaves Newport's Maritime History into Every Strand

Meet Rebecca Hooper, the artist leading an extraordinary woman-owned venture in the coastal paradise of Newport, Oregon. A retired fishery biologist with a 20-year journey as a weaver, Rebecca's passion is in the pursuit of innovative weaving techniques and materials.

 

The genesis of her weaving adventure with retired fishing ropes traces back to the encounter with Maine lobsterman Dave Carter's rope doormats, created in the 1970s. His innovative design sparked an artistic revolution of creating functional art with discarded lobster rope, all around the world. All creations in the Gypsea Weaver Studio were made with discarded maritime gear, typically Dungeness crab line, once used by the commercial fishing fleet working out of the Port of Newport.

 

Rebecca's private working studio is nestled in the heart of Newport, Oregon amidst the blue economy pulse of Dungeness crab fishing. Her Gypsea Weaver gift shop is a couple of doors away at the Pirates Plunder vendor mall. 

 

Rebecca's creative sanctuary breathes life into discarded fishing gear by weaving a tapestry of fishing rope mats, rope baskets, and her iconic rope jellyfish sculptures. Her creativity expands with one-of-a-kind woven wall art that embody the essence of Newport's thriving maritime heritage.

 

Each creation woven in the Gypsea Weaver Studio is a testament to the resilience of the local fishery, a beacon of sustainability in a sea of waste, and a celebration of Newport, Oregon's maritime spirit.