MELISSAHERRINGTON

The Ashley Book of Knots

The Ashley Book of Knots is an encyclopedia of knots first published in 1944 by Clifford Warren Ashley. The culmination of over 11 years of work, it contains some 7000 illustrations and more than 3854 entries covering over 2000 different knots. The entries include instructions, uses, and for some knots, histories, and are categorized by type or usage. It remains one of the most important books on knots, as it is one of the most extensive, covering both good knots and bad, and noting which is which.

These "knot" drawings oscillate between the representational and the abstract, repetition of lines and unrecognizable shapes and knots that reveal an atmosphere of clusters and abundance, giving an impression of complexity and expansion.

Colorful spheres, indistinguishable from afar, resemble eggs, pebbles, ropes or teardrops upon closer inspection. Each is nestled among intricately rendered graphic lines, with delicate strands wrapping around the shapes and floating across the canvas. These complex threads alternately remind one of spider webs, tree branches, gnarled roots and knotted webs.

Compositions are subtle meditative explorations in mark making, hinting at a subject but allowing the viewer to become lost on the picture surface and provide their own narrative of knots of nots.