Weaving waves and wonder
- Deborah creates woven driftwood sculptures
- Her pieces feature bends, curves and a natural sense of movement
- She sources materials from the banks of rivers and coastal plains
As a child, Deborah Smith found creativity in nature, walking the woods and fields behind her Hudson Valley home. “One of my favourite activities was to embellish deer beds I found in the tall grass, enhancing their fascinating patterns with sticks, leaves and stones,” she says. Deborah’s passion for basketmaking came later and as a total surprise, when a class intended to entertain her children left her enthralled. Starting with plaited, then ribbed baskets, she moved on to her signature sculptural style after admiring the curve of a reed placed against a piece of driftwood. Deborah’s artworks celebrates water and wood in movement, recalling the waves, currents and tides that shepherd a branch of driftwood to its arrival on shore.
INTERVIEW
At first, I liked the simplicity and economy of Shaker baskets. Later, I began experimenting with freer, more sculptural designs by pairing round reed with ribbed weaving. This technique provides the flexibility needed for my fluid shapes and forms.
Driftwood carries a story. I have always loved trees and the way their branches stretch toward the light. In driftwood, I still see that gesture. There is also something deeply satisfying in the search itself, finding these fragments, on a beach or nestled between rocks, and giving them a new life in my work.
Once I envisage a basic form, I drill into the driftwood and insert round reeds to create a frame for the weaving. Colour is applied afterwards, using acrylic paint followed by a clear finish. A medium sized piece takes about three months to complete.
It is important that my pieces are honest and well-crafted while evoking a sense of movement, wonder and peace. Daily, open exposure to nature helps my creativity arise with ease, while weaving helps me stay focused and grounded.
