About
Mary Laurie combines a love of gathering and collecting with basketry and development of non-functional vessels using natural materials andcucurbitaceae (gourds).
Soon after she learned basket making her work migrated from purchased materials and traditional designs to non-traditional forms using a variety of materials including grasses, vines, and woods native to her surroundings. She travels with clippers at the ready and explores the use of vegetation that would not be considered a logical choice for weaving.
“I’m interested in achieving contemporary shapes and seldom pursue other designs with the exception of an occasional foray into work inspired by ancient cultures of the American Southwest. Unlike many artists who can labor over a piece to achieve absolute perfection, I have to move quickly. That often leads to unexpected surprises and pieces that morph from the initial design to the final product.”
Mary grew up in southwestern Missouri and attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she earned a degree in Journalism and a minor in Art with a focus on graphic design. She relocated to Little Rock in 1979 and now resides near Bigelow in Perry County. Through the years, her artistic endeavors have varied: as a printmaker’s assistant, a freelance graphic artist, and winner of Little Rock’s first Food as Art competition in 1987. Her professional career spans nearly three decades in communications and public relations, with a recent shift to sustainable initiatives within the construction industry. She contributes art to a variety of charitable causes each year.