Weaving
Artist Bio
Graycen Shelley is from the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she draws most of her inspiration. She explores her nature-filled childhood memories and future dreams through her playful work in weaving. She uses materials like tree branches found in the valley at home as a dowel for hanging her art, and old frames from local second-hand stores as the loom structure for her pieces. Shelley has a fascination with the complexity of knots. Combining repetition in knots with her eye for color theory, she weaves together whimsical wall art. Graycen Shelley is currently a sophomore at Renaissance High School, where she will continue to explore fibers in weaving.
Artist Statement
Weaving gives me the opportunity to express myself through my hands. I have always been fascinated with knots, and my hands have always found peace with the repetitive motion of making them. I use different types of yarn, colors of roving, and recycled fabrics and denim for the weft of my projects. This creates diversity, even while using the same knot. Before I start weaving, I have an array of colors picked out, and the rest I come up with as I go. This allows me to push myself as an artist, trying out different patterns or scenes and problem-solving my way through a project. This improvised style of art also helps express my uncertainty about the future and coping with emotions, turning these situations into art.
