STATEMENT - SUSAN JONES

Improvisational Weaving
as an act of
Transformation

Basketry uses gifts from nature, plants are woven into new forms and textures. Becoming fluent in this style of undulating shapes puts me at ease with feelings of energized focus leading to full and complete emersion in the process. Sculptural weaving free form shapes is a unique and innovative technique that combines traditional weaving with contemporary art.

I am learning to surrender to the design possibilities of reed while potentially capturing characteristics of wind or water in continuous movement. Understanding the properties and limitations of varied materials allows me to make decisions that will enhance the overall design. Additionally, learning to surrender can spark creativity and innovation. Embracing these challenges can lead to unexpected and exciting outcomes that push the boundaries of traditional design.

The process involves manipulating the materials in a free-flowing manner to create dynamic and organic shapes that evoke emotion and intrigue. This form of weaving allows for endless possibilities in terms of design and structure, resulting in pieces that are visually captivating and tactilely engaging. It is a playful and experimental approach to textile art, blurring the lines between craft and fine art, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved through weaving techniques.

Free flowing three-dimensional weaving allows for an intuitive investigation of transparency and dimension through form. Traditional basketry uses the base to rest on, but in sculptural weaving it may or may not be the center of the shape, regardless of the starting point.

Woven shapes challenge the imagination by exposing the structure while allowing light to pass through in all directions, highlighting both intimate and expansive spaces.

I see my sculptures as an exploration of improvisational weaving, a process of creating shapes that are not specifically planned, trusting that a unique shape will reveal itself. The pieces flow from neither a solid idea or desired outcome, but rather through a subliminal intuitive and fluid process.