Decided to continue with the wood weaving. Although the loom perhaps had a more direct link to the weaving metaphor that I had adopted, weaving wood had a more direct link with landscape and was in its very production, managing the landscape, albeit it in a small way. After experimenting with a few species, chose to use ash – it is supple, good colour and bud’s are great nodules. Also much to be cleared and coppiced from a landscape management point of view. Ash die back also a factor as was their frequency as the rubbed tree on the woodland pilgrimage. How much the landscape would change without them.
Using red cloth to tie them symbolised how weaving has co-created the landscape, the landscape represented by green cloth.
Although the massing of the ash weaves was visually appealing, it did not reflect ideas of moving through, being a part of. The overall design for the installation was to create walking experiences, to create an open space. Nevertheless, I was keen to play with the shadows that a the structures cast – an added dimension and commentary on both the affect of landscape on us, and our effects on it.
