Laurie, Mary

Traveling with clippers at the ready, Mary Laurie gathers and collects the natural materials she uses for basketry and non-functional gourd vessels. While most of the materials are native grasses, vines, and woods from Arkansas, she explores the use of unusual weaving resources collected wherever she travels as well as found objects and metals. She prefers contemporary to traditional influences. “Unlike many artists who can labor over a piece to achieve absolute perfection, I have to move quickly. That often leads to unexpected surprises and pieces that morph from the initial design idea to a completely different final product.”