Artwork: Held Mysteries 2017
Artist: Sally Blake
Basket information (L-R): E. radiata; E. melliodora; E. stellulata; E. mannifera; E. pauciflora subs. debeuzevillei
Medium: copper wire, eucalyptus dyed wool, silk and hemp
Dimensions: 5 @ 12 x 20cm
Acquisition: An acquisition of the ACT Legislative Assembly Art Advisory Committee, 2017
Asset no: OLA002016
About the Work
The small baskets in Blake’s series Held Mysteries were woven on a copper support, using silk, hemp and wool thread. Each basket uses colours from a single eucalyptus species—the variation of colour is due to the different materials (silk, hemp or wool) and different mordants used in the dying process.
Each of the 5 baskets uses a eucalypt endemic to the Canberra region, one from each of the 5 climate regions: Lowlands, High Country, Wetlands, Wet Forest and Dry Forest. The plant material was collected with the permission and assistance of the Australian National Botanic Gardens and Namadgi National Park, ACT.
About the Artist
Sally Blake was awarded a BA (Visual) in 2007, followed by a PhD from the ANU in 2015. She has presented several solo exhibitions and has been selected for group shows and prizes in Canberra and interstate.