Jessica SC

Artist Q+A - Discover Basket Weaving with Harriet Goodall

Jessica SC
Artist Q+A - Discover Basket Weaving with Harriet Goodall

Harriet Goodall is a sculptor and basketmaker who explores the intersection of traditional craft with art and design.
Join Harriet this October in Puglia, Italy to learn all about contemporary basket weaving techniques. But first, let's get to know a little more about her.


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I love responding to found and natural materials by listening to what they want to become next.

Currently I am inspired by weaving through all the burnt and oxidized metals left after the fires in Australia. 

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I try to keep my focus in the present and my favourite is whatever I am working on so.. right now in the studio I am making a huge woven wall piece shaped somewhat like a wave or a seed to go on a dividing wall in a beach house in Mermaid Beach, Queensland and a series of wall sculptures for a small group exhibition in Melbourne called Australia: Living Land at Otomys Contemporary. 

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In my work I look to the colours and marks made in nature, the layers in landscape and the cycle of life.

I am always trying to find ways to make my art using reclaimed materials and tread lightly on the earth.  I am inspired by all the women who have come before me using their hands and hearts to survive. 

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I love teaching contemporary free-form random weaving and it was the technique that got me hooked on basketry in the first place.  Witnessing the moment when everyone starts to let go of perfection and flow in their weaving is always beautiful. 

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Traditional indigenous fibre artefacts in museums and contemporary artists and sculptors breaking boundaries and working with new materials. 

I could name a hundred! but if I had to name just a few .. Rosalie Gasgoyne, Eva Hesse, Ruth Asawa, Martin Puryear, Roy Wiggan, Hiroyuki Hamada and currently I am a fan of Mimi Jung who is based in LA. They are all fibre sculptors with a minimalist natural material or restricted colour palette focussing on shape.


If you are inspired to explore Italy and learn with Harriet here is your chance.
Join us by clicking below