Artist and weaver Justine Ashbee creates beautiful pieces for her line Native Line. She began with illustrations and now has taken it into the next realm with magical wall hangings and bracelets woven with gold thread on her home loom. Her stories are informed by Native American stories and truly make a room vibrate. She is able to bring an ancient art form a modern, clean aesthetic.
1) What inspired you to start the line?
I had the fortune to participate in an artist residency program at Herekeke, in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. The area surrounding Taos has been a spiritual home to me since I was a young girl, so it has always been a place I return to over the years, for rejuvenation and inspiration. Together with the local residents, we built a traditional Navajo loom from the trees on their property, and used the wool that they sheered from their sheep, that we then dyed with local plants, and spun into usable wool. It was a beautiful engagement of a vertical production process that felt both sustainable, and ancient. The inherent nature of weaving, both the process and structure of weaving has always influenced & informed my work. Weaving is a foundation that I always return to, and after years of working in other mediums, I felt like I had finally come home again. I had a strong re-awakening of my sensibilities and my voice at this time, and felt an identification with the wisdom found in the practice of weaving. It is one of the most ancient technologies we have as humans. One of storytelling, myth, tradition, technique, transferring wisdom from one generation to the next.
2) I really admire the way you have taken your art into so many avenues from jewelry to wall hangings. Can you tell me how this natural progression started?
I am interested in the cross over of forms in Ornamentation. Each process informs the other. I do not feel that they are so separate. We personalize objects, and imbue them with magic when we give meaning to things. In a way, this fetishising of objects transforms their use. A beautiful piece of jewelry becomes an object of art to hang on the wall. A beautiful woven rug becomes a curtain in a doorway.
3) Are you a forest fairy or mermaid?
Mermaid
4) Where is your dream vacation?
Lately I haven't been able to stop thinking about Australia. I am so drawn to what seems to me like a vibrancy and eccentricity that is unlike anywhere else I know. Generally anywhere that is sunny, beachy, vibrant, colorful, and also serene. I like to go to sleepy beach towns when we are vacationing. I get inspired by the wind in the palms, the salt of the waves, warm skin, and the heat offers the opportunity to wear bright and bold colors and patterns that doesn't otherwise happen in an everyday urban setting.
5) Can you tell us about your upcoming work here in LA?
There is currently a show up at the
Sacred Door Gallery that is focused on Textile work from a range of artists in various design fields. This collection of pieces I created for Native Line is inspired by the power of the Sun. In Incan mythology they considered Gold to be the 'Sweat of the Sun' and Silver to be the 'Tears of the Moon' These are incredibly beautiful symbols to me. I felt very inspired by the energy of the Sun, particularly the Sun in the Desert, whilst creating these pieces. I also made pieces specifically for
CHAY, inspired by Runes, that have a different kind of elegance to them. There are also new works available at Weltenbuerger in Los Feliz.
