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In Conversation with Katie Grove
For TWP Madison, we commissioned custom woven baskets and sculptures by artist Katie Grove. Katie explores the forests and fields in her local upstate New York, foraging for natural materials to weave from. Her practice is rooted in her passion for cultivating a relationship with the plants in her local landscape.
Tell me about your process when creating a woven object, Where does your inspiration come from? Do you plan into the shape of the basket or let the weaving see where it takes you?
“Creating a woven sculpture or basket is always a collaboration with the materials. Sometimes I have an idea of a basic structure or size before I begin, but I love to leave room for evolution. Sometimes a certain type of vine or wood splint that I wasn’t expecting fits perfectly into a piece, and it’s this openness that keeps me engaged and having fun.”
What do you look for when you’re gathering or selecting your materials? Is it something visual, tactile, or more instinctive?
Every plant has a season where it is ready to be foraged, so I’m really working in tune with the seasons, which I love. It keeps me connected to nature. I’m looking for vines in the winter, leafy plants in the early fall and bark in the summer. I’m always trying to find materials that are particularly long and healthy in places where foraging will not harm the ecosystem. It is a mix of knowing what makes good weaving material and what inspires me, especially when it comes to interesting pieces of wood that will become one-of-a-kind sculptures.
“My favorite pieces are the ones that take years to complete—in the sculpture I am calling Ripple I have had this gorgeous, undulating piece of wood in my studio for over ten years and it wasn’t until meeting with the folks from TWP that my vision for how to complete it, with a very fine black ash splint weave, came to light.”
Has weaving taught you anything that you can translate to the rest of your life?
“Absolutely! I think weaving is a beautiful way to self-reflect. I am constantly learning lessons when making art that are so valuable in my life. Patience is a big one that I keep coming back to. When I do very meticulous work I am always reminding myself to stay present and simply be in the process. This comes out in foraging as well, since many of these plants take many hours to find, harvest and prepare. This time spent in nature is essential to my being, but sometimes I get distracted by my to-do list at home and want to rush. Staying present helps me refocus and be grateful. This is a lesson that I have carried over to being a mother to a toddler especially!”
