About: Artist Jennifer Heller Zurick

Jennifer lives in the Kentucky foothills and finds her creative spirit in the outdoors. Through travel to such places as Laos, the Himalayan Mountains and a jungle in Nepal, Jennifer has found native people using woven baskets as a part of their everyday life. Those experiences have not only enhanced Jennifer's knowledge of technique and fiber, but also gave her a valuable perspective on cultural awareness.

I aspire to create simple, elegant woven vessels that possess a richness of spirit and a presence embodying the soul of the tree from which they came. My basketry is rooted in a resolve to keep life simple, joyful and directly connected to the earth. As my work evolves, I am compelled to create more refined, intuitive and intricate pieces, finding great satisfaction in emulating the art and integrity of fine basketry.

The emphasis of my most recent work is on expressive form and technique rather than function, my baskets possessing more of a vessel presence. My creative energy flows from a fascination with old tribal textiles, finely woven functional containers and ancient processes. As I experiment with various twining techniques to inject pattern and rhythmic design elements, the inspirational influence of early Native American basketry is reflected. Working exclusively with natural fibers collected from my environment imbues my work with an organic soulfulness that might otherwise be absent.

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