Woven Forms
Artist’s Statement
I have a deep connection with the natural world around me, field, forest, and wetland and I try to give voice to that connection in my work.
My creative focus is on the woven form incorporating local indigenous materials such as black ash, maple, willow, birch bark, and cedar bark, as well as other plant fibres both woody and herbaceous.
My creative process begins with a harvest principal that embraces respect for the land and attention to sustainability.
I combine the traditional with the innovative techniques in weaving to express a contemporary language in my work.
Artist Biography
Ralph Simpson was born in Hillsborough, New Brunswick. He is a wood fibre artist creating baskets and sculptures. His chosen media is black ash, willow, maple, and cedar bark, and other plant fibres many of which are indigenous to New Brunswick.
Ralph combines a deep respect for traditional weaving techniques with his own innovations and enjoys incorporating a wide variety of materials and techniques in his creative practice.
Inspired by the local environment and nature’s forms he creates contemporary sculptural forms large and small and enjoys exploring the unique properties of various natural plant materials.