In Our Gallery with Elaine Kirk

How long have you been an artist and how did you get started?

I have always enjoyed craft activities, even as a child.

Mum taught me a few sewing and crochet skills when I was a teenager and this is when I found my love of creating.

For many years I sewed clothes for my children and myself.

All my grandchildren have a quilt I made specially for them and numerous family members have crocheted rugs I lovingly made.  

I then attended a few basket weaving classes here in Bundaberg, run by Lyn Barton, and have found this to be my passion.

Tell us about your artwork displayed by Bundaberg Regional Galleries as part of the Here + Now exhibition?

Most of my weaving creations have been baskets of various shapes and sizes, but for the exhibition I wanted to weave something different.

I dyed the pink raffia which I used with the natural raffia and added adornments which are pieces I found on my beach walks and so evolved this basket - ''Beached''.

Nature is so beautiful, sometimes I just have to pick up pieces of driftwood, grasses, leaves and dried flowers.

What medium was used and how does this reflect your usual practice?

I used natural and hand dyed raffia to weave this basket.

Weaving with raffia is easy on your hands, where as weaving with vines and some grasses, can be quite hard on your hands.

At the moment I am enjoying weaving a variety of baskets, in a variety of colours using raffia which makes each basket unique.

What do you love most about what you do?                   

Weaving allows you to be quite creative with colour, shape and form.

Everything I use is natural as it is so easy to work with and nature gives me inspiration. 

I also like it when someone buys one of my baskets!

Previous In Our Gallery: Vanessa Allegra