Katherine Caldwell

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Natural MaterialsSpirit of the Grain
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Swannanoa
NC

Straws of wheat and other grains have been twisted into fancy shapes for at least as long as there has been agriculture. Woven patterns have been passed from hand to hand for centuries, and with them, stories shared. Stories of the vital place the weavings held in the farmers' homes. The weavings were used for seed saving, seed sharing, and to hold safe the "spirit of the grain" within the intricate patterns, until spring came and planting began anew. Hung as adornment inside houses, the straw weavings helped people keep the faith in nature's bounty, to trust the family would not go hungry. Today our grain rarely reaches us with the straws intact. Working with the straws keeps me in touch with the actual plants that sustain us. When I weave, a connection is revitalized: with our ancestors, with nature, and with the spirit of the grain.

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