Wild Weave

Wild Weave

Alice Fox

Bastford

Who is Alice Fox?

What do I first see when I encounter Alice? I see a woman, who loves nature, who has in a way, become nature. She looks peaceful, serene, at one. Maybe its a wonderful portrayal rather than reality, or maybe it is down to the fact she is doing what all the best books tell you to do - take time for peace, in the earth we are party to.

Her work is unusual, in mixed forms visually, but always has the made not man-made feel. She works from her Allotment, which seems to fit her so well and teaches and exhibits all over the world. To me, she is a one off, in a ‘buy cheap, throw quick’ society with so little steadiness - her world is the surest of them all.

What are her practice themes?

Nature. Be it any sort. Imagine foraging, gathering, growing….

What will I learn in this title Wild Weave?

This is a book of possibilities, you will not be guided through step by step projects, you will be educated to make your own.

The book comprises of sections: Tools, Stitched Weave, sculptural works….’soft’ basketry work as her website names it. Much is said about being at one, as it were with the environment and seeing the seasons and the changes within as an influencing factory of your creation. I imagine that’s due to her lived experience within her own garden slot.

I said that this book is not at first and foremost a teaching tool, however it gently leads you into the methods, unforced. Throughout, there are diagrams of how work can be made; I.e. page 41 stitch wrapped twinning and later page 69 where unusual ‘in the round’ shapes are formed.

Ideas of natural embellishment also form, look out for the stones of a blue colour woven in.

In a nutshell, you will expand your imagination of what is possible and even if you don’t drop it all and focus on this sort of work, I do feel it would be healthy for us all to let some part of it stay with us. Near the start, she opens the topic of the title, stating: ‘We touch things to assure ourselves of reality’ - so in a sense, working with natural materials becomes ‘grounding’ for us, a sense of place, our home. (under title Why Wild?).

Worth noting that there are no ‘surprise’ guest artists here. What you see is what you get, they link so well and are chosen so sympathetically in view to the authors practice that they appear, yet not ‘loudly’. No one is used for use sake or name - I appreciated that.

Notes on imagery - just to say that there are a mix of work and natural resources.

The tools and materials are of course costly only in time to learn, not in finance!

Who is it aimed at?

Those who wish to educate themselves in a new practice or lifestyle. Students or enquiring minds, who may wish to experiment and play.

Pages worth mentioning

Near the end, there is a section which extends the mind to what weaving can become and what can be used - all I say is check out the earphones and wire! (Beginning on page 95)

Ending

This book has a story, without trying for one or tying in personal experience with the materials used in a historical sense. The materials have their own story to begin with, they have lived a life outside of us and it is up to us and this author to pick them wisely, be their custodians and respect their use - respect, that is definitely the word I would place on my views of this author. I respect her core values and the way she lives out her life. So in a way, I see this book as a therapy, a way of switching off from the busy noise around us, pairing it all down to ground level…literally.

Here is a link to her website, so you can learn more about her practice methods.