Grounded Horizons
$360.00
Artist: David Grieves
Medium: Hand dyed natural reed and cane on a stained wood base
Artist Statement:
Grounded Horizons is an exploration of the profound sense of place found within the Canadian landscape. Inspired by a sunrise on Lake Louisa in Algonquin Park, I set out to create a piece that captures the experience of a full panoramic horizon. This work is rooted in my personal relationship with the waterways and forests of the park, which have served as a second home and a vital source of restoration throughout my life.
The land is where I feel most at home, and the process of weaving allows me to translate that sense of calm into a physical object. The basket is built upon a slotted wood base stained with cutch to reflect the rich, grounded tones of the earth. Watching the light transition across the water, I wanted to craft a piece that allowed the viewer to feel as though they were standing at the centre of that moment, surrounded by the shifting colours of the sky and the land.
Hand dyed natural reed stakes transition from deep to light turquoise hues, interspersed with violet sunrise rays. These colours shift and change as the viewer moves around the piece, mirroring the movement of light and the rhythmic, meditative nature of the weaving process. Through a deliberate variation in weaver thickness and hand dyed layering, the piece captures the precise moment the sun breaks the horizon, weaving together my connection with the land and the internal peace found within functional craftsmanship.
Artist Biography:
David Grieves is a self taught artist and basket weaver based in Guelph, Ontario, and the founder of Woven Hues. His journey into basketry began with the restoration of a cedar canvas canoe, where he discovered a profound sense of purpose in the quiet, restorative process of working with his hands. Captivated by the ability to create strength and beauty through intricate weaves while re-caning the canoe seats, he transitioned his creative focus toward the art of basket making.
David’s artistic practice is an extension of his deep connection to the Canadian landscape, particularly the waterways and forests of Algonquin Park. These environments serve as a second home and a vital source of inspiration, shaping his focus on slow, intentional making. His work blends traditional weaving techniques with a modern eye for colour and texture, aiming to create functional pieces that feel both timeless and fresh.
Before fully embracing basketry, David exhibited internationally as a stencil artist and was a multiple time finalist in the Kutz Stencil Awards and Stencil Art Prize. This background in visual arts remains invaluable to his current practice, as he applies principles of layering and complex design to his hand dyed reed and cane. By designing original patterns and hand dyeing his own materials, David creates organic forms that reflect the serenity of the landscapes he has explored, imbuing each piece with the same sense of calm and restoration he finds in the natural world.
