Nest Series #4, “Protected”

I weave with traditional techniques and materials, both as functional or expressive mixed media pieces. My knowledge of basketry often finds its way into a work, helping to express a concept or theme. In my nest piece titled “Protected”, I explored concepts of home and safety, and inside and outside spaces in a woven form. The weaving began as a solid circular ball that I cut into after weaving it tightly into a solid random form as tight as I could. I wanted to try to make a space deep inside that would hold together: I did not know what would happen until I started clipping from top down and into the solid ball. So, for me, this basket embraces the surprises and failures that came from the making as well as the thought and time woven into it. This is what drives and fulfills me when creating (whether it succeeds in my mind’s eye or not). For me the act of making is often the vehicle to something greater…