Artist
Part of events on ArtRabbit in: Cheltenham
ABOUT WEAVING THE WILD I came to weaving towards the end of the first lockdown in June 2020. I had been researching 19th century weaving for my second book (yes, I write too), when I stumbled across the art of free-weaving or “weaving without intent”. This style of weaving was founded by Misao Jo, a Japanese teacher of Ikebana; and incorporates Zen philosophy. This way of weaving came to be known as SAORI. The name Weaving the Wild encompasses another passion of mine – walking. As I live in the Cotswolds this usually involves ambling in the beautiful countryside that surrounds my home town of Cirencester. On my daily walks I often photograph anything that catches my eye in nature: trees, leaves, fungi, flowers, seed heads, rivers and canals. I also love architecture: windows, doors, bridges, gates, fences and the detail in old buildings. All these things inspire my work, and I hope I capture their essence in the textiles I weave. Each piece of cloth represents a season, a mood, an emotional connection to a place or person; the colours I choose, the yarn thickness, and the various techniques I employ tell a unique story. Each piece of handwoven cloth is distinctive and cannot be replicated as I do not follow a pattern. The scarves are made from ethically sourced natural yarns. The majority are vegan – please check each individual scarf if this is important to you. Jak Harrison MA BA (Hons)
Exhibitions and Events
2023