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Aid to Artisans is saddened by the news of the passing of Vincent Carleton and the ATA family sends its heart-felt condolences to his family and friends.

Vincent was a gifted designer who worked with ATA on several projects beginning in 1988 including ones in Peru, Afghanistan, Jordan, and Indonesia. His passion for design, and passing along his design knowledge, was obvious when he worked in the field with artisans. Vincent worked extensively with weavers in Peru, where he is considered a national treasure, with ATA and continued his relationship and work with the artisans there beyond ATA’s project.

Vincent’s most recent work with ATA was just last year in Afghanistan where he fearlessly traveled under dangerous conditions to work with hundreds of carpet weavers. He conducted technical trainings introducing new techniques to the Afghanis that are used in Nepal and India to provided faster production capabilities. He also conducted dye and design trainings, even teaching Photoshop skills to weavers.

He will be greatly missed.

Vincent Emerton Carleton 1951-2009

Vincent Carleton born February 16, 1951 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, died on Saturday April 4th, 2009 at the Pacific Coast Medical Center in San Francisco from liver cancer. He was 58. Vincent studied fine art and textiles at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland California in the early 1970’s. As an apprentice weaver with Malia Lavinia and Trude Guermonprez from 1973 -1976, he developed his weaving design abilities. While managing Carole Rae’s Fiber Center Gallery in the Galleria Design Center in San Francisco, he met fellow weaver and dyer, Carolyn Hurlbut in 1976. After a few years of collaborating on fiber art for gallery showings, Carolyn and Vincent were married in 1979 and a year later created Carleton Designs, a rug-weaving studio in San Anselmo. In 1984, they moved their home and studio to Elk where they have since maintained a custom rug-weaving studio. Beginning in 1988, Vincent became a textile design consultant for a number of organizations and companies including Aid To Artisans, International Executive Service Corp and Natural Carpet Company bringing his technical and creative talents to weavers and artisans in Indonesia, Jordan, Mozambique, Peru, Afghanistan, Nicaragua and the Philippines. Vincent’s unique ability to translate time-honored weaving techniques into contemporary designs and products created new rug, carpet and accessory lines for the home furniture marketplace. His travels also brought new ideas and inspirations to the Elk studio where Carolyn continues to manage custom commissions for interior designers and architects throughout the country.

Family, community, weaving and his work with artisans around the world were Vincent’s focus and passion in life. His tireless energy for new projects and community service spilled over into bread-baking, inspiring the construction of wood-fired bread ovens at the Greenwood Community Center, a hub of community fund-raisers and events in Elk.

Vincent is survived by his wife, Carolyn and son, Alex, of Elk, daughter, Tamma of Portland,OR; brothers, Don of Fort Bragg, Owen of Larkspur, Co with his wife, Carol, sisters, Susie Carleton of Bernardston MA, and Molly McDonald of San Diego, CA .

Vincent was buried in the Greenwood Community Cemetery on April 6 followed by a memorial celebration with family and friends at the Greenwood Community Center in Elk, CA.