Vickie Orton

I’m a textile artist and a passionate believer in creating art for all. Many of my works include tactile elements e.g. using different materials to create raised surfaces, incorporating handstitched Braille and Bliss symbols. The books arose as a result of being unable to join my family walking around a turf maze, the paths being too narrow for my wheelchair. I wanted to create a way to experience the meditative process of walking and following the maze. Running your fingers over the maze offers a sense of peace and tranquillity.

To walk in the woods, 2020

Birch bark, paper, linen, wool, string and beads, 10cm x 10cm; 10cm x 5cm; 5cm x 5cm

Three large and two small artists books, covered in birch bark and decorated with beads
Pages of four artists books, open to show woollen maze patterns
Green wool spirals pattern on pages of open book
Pages of two artists books, open to show woollen maze patterns
Three large and one small artists books, covered in birch bark and decorated with beads
Wool maze pattern on inside page of open artist book, plus a bead

Images description: These four artists books have a rough birch bark cover. The book is tied closed with hessian string which has beads attached to the end of it. The inside cover of the book is lined with paper from an Ordinance Survey map. When opened the inside map cover is 99% obscured. When opened up there is one double page spread which unfolds from the centre of the book. The centre page is folded using a Turkish map fold. The centre page is made from unbleached cotton which is backed onto a random piece of Ordinance Survey map. There is a raised surface on the unbleached cotton which is made from strands of twisted felting wool. The wool creates the pattern of a maze which you can run your fingers over to trace the pattern. 

Website: www.wordweaverstories.com

Facebook: @wordweaverstories