Sally J. Bright

Imagine a large, convoluted shape of air. Next, imagine weaving vine-like pieces of rattan and palm around that shape to enclose and define it. That is how these shapes are created. A piece may begin as a response to a mood, the essence of a shape, or a *feeling* about a movement, a material or even a color combination. The most successful work comes when I am able to sustain that feeling and follow it, allowing the piece to become what it needs to be. Certainly I look to create beauty. More importantly, I look to evoke an emotional reaction within the person viewing a work. Each basket is an original creation, designed and woven entirely by Sally without assistance from employees, apprentices or helpers. She first studies an idea through drawings and fashioning small clay models. As she begins work on the actual piece, Sally mentally/visually enlarges the design to full size. She does not use molds or armatures to form her creations. The flowing shapes are deliberately formed through the weaving process by gradually building the shape one row, one “stitch” at a time. Her creations are woven mostly of rattan and palm. She is incorporating metals into the newest work. After completing the weaving, she applies 20-30 coats of translucent acrylic paint, and several coats of sealant. Depending on the intricacy of the design and the detail involved, it may take up to three months to complete a piece.