Mary Crabb

​

Elements: wood metal

​

Warp weft stitch thread 2021

​

Monochrome 2021

​

Throughout her childhood Mary was always making. However as soon as she made her first willow basket, she knew she had to make more.

 

An introduction to textile basketry and the suggestion to try some different materials took her making in a new direction. Working with fine flexible materials, with the use of a few simple tools, she sits on the edge of basketry and textiles, drawing skills from both areas: adapting techniques, exploring and experimenting. Most of her textile basketry work uses the technique of twining. Twining is very accessible; it doesn’t need a lot of space, expensive equipment, or even materials. You just need a lot of patience and time, as twining is slow.

 

More recently her practice has developed to incorporate more ‘traditional’ textile techniques such as stitching, alongside basketry. In essence, her practice as a whole is about communication and education. As part of her practice she tutors maths, runs creative workshops and offers talks. There are connections to be drawn between ‘making sense’ of maths and basketry through the communication of techniques, ideas and solving the problems or challenges that both offer. The process of communicating intrigues her, in particular the use of diagrams.