KAREN STEWART

In this series, I explore the notion of what is beneath? What are we hiding? What do we only reveal in small fleeting glimpses? I am moving back to my old-time favourite, watercolours. I just love this medium, it is so fluid, dynamic, and hard to control. I love the process of ‘letting go’ and allowing the paint to bloom across the page. There is something both magical and mesmerizing about watching this happen. Basket weaving is an ancient African craft, one which I have been fascinated by for many decades. This is a craft almost exclusively dominated by women. I have very personal reasons for wanting to connect with women’s craft. I love the meditative process weaving is. I remember speaking to some ladies in Mellville about their baskets. They told me a basket takes at least a week to make, large ones can take a month. All the materials are hand-picked and cured for weaving. This is a slow craft for patient people and each basket is unique. Weaving paper is not easy and I wanted to present women’s gentle power in this series. Weaving is slow and methodical allowing one to take time out to think and process.