On Behalf of Plants
In this series I endeavor to give voice to the plant species used in each basket by weaving and embroidering words and phrases into each basket as if they grew naturally. In some the words are evident. In others you have to look closer.
This work began when I found myself wanting to go deeper in my basket weaving practice– to connect with the root of why creating baskets with locally harvested plants was important. As with anything in my life I started with gratitude. And in weaving the root of that gratitude in for the plants themselves. They are the teachers, they are the artists. I started asking myself questions like “what are the plants saying?” “How can I give voice to the grapevine and cedar?” “ What do they want to communicate?” “What do I want to communicate on their behalf?”
On Behalf of Plants is the result of these questions. It is an ongoing series that I may be exploring for the rest of my life as I continue to learn to listen and look closer, just as I invite the viewer to do.
The numbered list corresponds to the images from left to right, row by row
Walk Slow; honeysuckle vine, white ash inner bark; 8" x 8" x"8
Hold Space; grapevine, tulip tree inner bark, acorn ink, basswood cordage, Japanese paper; 16" x 16" x 10"
Listen (Small Vessel); wisteria vine, elm inner bark; 10”x12”x6”
Woven; honeysuckle, hickory inner bark; 9”x10”x5”
Look Close; honeysuckle vine, white ash inner bark; 6" x 6" x 7"
Listen; grapevine, honeysuckle vine, elm inner bark, western red cedar; 17" x 15" x 22"
To Be a Vessel; locust wood, honeysuckle vine, elm inner bark, basswood cordage; 12" x 7" x 30"
Group view of Walk Slow and Listen Close
Installation view of On Behalf of Plants