Beneath our feet, water moves through limestone in ancient channels—silent, unseen, essential. So too does meaning course through memory, myth, and the materials we inherit.

Groundwork is a collection of fifteen silk banners that delve into what lies beneath the surface—both in the aquifers that sustain Central Texas and in the metaphorical depths of our collective unconscious. Created by textile artist and educator Gwendolyn Hustvedt, this series is a meditation on connection, sustainability, and the sacred.

The Themes
From root systems and karst formations to mythic eggs and psychopomp bats, Groundwork weaves together science, story, and spiritual ecology. Each banner is accompanied by a poetic essay, inviting contemplation of the literal and symbolic ground beneath us.

The Process
These works were created using the traditional Serti silk painting technique, with rice-based resist mirroring the way water shapes stone. Painted in lunar-aligned cycles, the series reflects an ethic of care, reverence, and cyclical time.

What’s Inside the eBook

• Full-color images of all 15 banners
• Accompanying essays from the artist for each piece
• An introduction exploring aquifers and the unconscious
• A closing reflection on what we stand to lose—and what we might yet preserve

Purchase the eBook
Buy the Groundwork eBook for $4.99 through the Gwendolyn Studio store

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