Spirit-Guided Earth Sculpture
Natural materials from the Lake Superior shoreline ground this creative practice in respectful relationship with the land.
The process begins in meditation. Then the stones determine the weave, each one uniquely shaped by time and the waters of this inland sea. I then choose a question that somehow matches what happened in the weaving to pair with the stone. I write questions as part of my leadership development work, creating a constant flow of new questions over the years.
The stones are each woven and accented with materials native to Lake Superior, including black ash, buckskin leather, birch bark, driftwood, and natural fibers. Sometimes stones and materials gathered along my travels to other lands find their way into the weave.
My newest creative adventure, the Pique & Ponder Card Deck, came about when art lovers visiting my booth would linger to read all the questions and tell me “I just want all the questions!”.
Pairing my original contemplative photography with these questions was my solution to meet that spoken need.
About the Artist
I am Tracy Chaplin, enjoying this creative process wherever it may lead. Duluth, Minnesota, is my chosen home, where the land, water, and people connect to create a deeply rich and vibrant community. Stoneweaving and contemplative photography are my current creative pursuits, along with my primary work in collaborative leadership through my company, Co-Nexio.
Stoneweaver came into form while participating in a guided 100-day creativity project during the summer of 2021, to give myself permission to be creative every day.
Deep gratitude for our guide and those who witnessed my progress. This evolution has been truly unexpected, filled with healing and joy. I hope these stone sculptures bring you joy as well!
“In my humble opinion, modified by attending hundreds of galleries and art fairs over 60+ years, your rock art is creative and beautiful, and I have never seen anything quite like it.”
Land Acknowledgment
Duluth is located on traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands called home by the Ojibwe people. Ceded by the Ojibwe in an 1854 treaty, this land holds great historical, spiritual, and personal significance for its original stewards, the Native nations and peoples of this region. I humbly acknowledge and advocate for the sovereignty of the Native nations in this territory and beyond.
In gratitude, Stoneweaver contributes a percentage of every sale to Indigenous causes in the Great Lakes region.