Two Basketmakers Win NEA Fellowships

Basketmakers Teri Rofkar of Sitka, AK and LeRoy Graber of Freeman, SD are recipients of the 2009 NEA National Heritage Fellowships. These annual $25,000 awards are given to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. The fellowships recognize lifetime achievement, artistic excellence, and contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage.

Teri Rofkar is a Tlingit basketmaker and Raven's Tail weaver. Leroy Graber practices the art of German willow basketmaking from his home in Freeman, South Dakota.

Congratulations to both of the winners.

2009 Basket Calendar ~ June

2009 Basket Calendar ~ June,
originally uploaded by BasketMakers.

I have created a set of 2009 Basketry Calendar pages that are sized to print out on 8.5" x 11" paper. Here is the page for the month of June. You can view the rest of them on flickr.com and see more basketry graphics on BasketMakers.com

Basketmakers Woods Walk

After a two week delay because of lousy weather and a bad case of laryngitis I suffered from, the Basketmakers Woods Walk hosted by the Dietrich Theater/Wyoming County Cultural Center went off yesterday without a hitch.

We gathered at the Riverside Park Willow Dome in Tunkhannock, PA to start the event. The Wee Willow Dome (actually a dome and fedges) was planned and planted by willow basketmaker and living willow installation artisan Bonnie Gale in 2004. After several years of growth the dome has filled in, is fully leafed out and actually ready for a bit of a trim. It makes a great shaded hideaway for the children who frequent the park. On a typical summer afternoon you can find children reading inside or playing side and seek. On this particular day a group of children were gathered nearby for a birthday celebration. You can see the red and blue helium balloons in the background if you peek through the willows on the right side of the dome.

We began our discussion with a demonstration of how to slip the willow skins off individual willow rods. These "skins" are the thin bark of the willow rod that can be harvested and used as basket weaving material. Early in the year the bark of the willow rods slip off easily leaving you with both the bark and a smooth white peeled rod. Skins harvested from a previous pruning session at the park are scheduled to be used in the introduction to twined basketry class scheduled at the Dietrich Theater next Saturday, June 6, 2009.

Before we moved on I encouraged everyone to duck inside and take a peek at the tiny little bird's nest that some enterprising feathered mommy had built right above the arched entryway of the willow dome. It is amazing what fantastic basketmakers those little birdies can be, and to think they only use a beak.

From there we moved on to a picnic table situated under a nearby grove of trees. I took the opportunity to share a selection of finished baskets made with a wide range of common plant materials that you can grow yourself or find in the woods. We also discussed a wide range of plant parts that find their way into weaving techniques. We discussed things such as how to process different types of woodsplint or incorporate vines, stems, roots, bark, leaves, shoots, leaf stems and other plant materials into baskets. I shared samples of many hand gathered and hand processed materials to give participants the opportunity to learn how to recognize them. Everyone had a chance to flip through some of my favorite natural materials basketry books and I gave each student a handout to take home. From there we all hopped into several cars and formed a caravan to drive to a local woodlot where I had arranged permission for access.

After arriving in the woods and stopping to tuck our pant legs into our boots and spray for insects we were off to see what we could find. There were all sorts of straight saplings that might find their way into woven garden plant supports or arbors. We dug hemlock roots and I demonstrated how to split the roots and peel off the bark. The split roots can be used as basket rims or weavers depending on scale. We located several vines including akebia, woodbine, periwinkle and wild grapevine. Of course I reminded everyone to be on the watch for poison ivy growing anywhere near what you are planning to harvest. (leaves of three-let it be)

I peeled the bark off numerous saplings to show just how many trees will release their bark for use as weavers or cordage. I demonstrated splitting a hemlock branch into matching halves suitable for rims and showed how a second split could be used to create a splint from the same hemlock branch. We talked about how many coppiced prunings from hedgerows or orchards can be used in stake and strand baskets when we happened upon a downed but still living poplar tree. Trees that have blown down in this fashion often make a valiant effort to survive, sending out new growth straight into the sky from the felled trunk.

Several class participants tried their hand at splitting some inner bark from a downed hemlock tree. The tree had fallen in a storm some time ago, but it still retained enough moisture to demonstrate how to peel the inner bark into layers. I think several students were inspired enough to try this on their own knowing that a freshly harvested tree or even a large branch would lead to even more successful gathering.

As we walked we took notice of all sorts of plant barks and fibers that would lend themselves to making cordage. I finished off our discussions with a demonstration of how to create cordage from plant fibers. I used some inner bark from several branches to create a length of cordage.

Everyone took the short walk back to their cars satisfied at having learned many ways to harvest local plant materials for their basketweaving projects.

If you are interested in future workshops, check out the Dietrich Theater's site and request to be placed on their mailing list. Stop by BasketMakers.com for much more about natural basketry materials.

Northern Great Basin Basketry Chronology

Thomas J. Connolly, Catherine S. Fowler, and William J. Cannon (2009) have recently released an article: Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology: Vol. 20: No. 1," Article 8. Radiocarbon Evidence Relating to Northern Great Basin Basketry Chronology".
Abstract:
Adovasio et al. (1986) described Early Holocene basketry from the northern Great Basin as "simple twined and undecorated." Cressman (1986) reported the presence of decorated basketry during the Early Holocene, which he characterized as a "climax of cultural development" in the Fort Rock Basin in Oregon. These contrasting interpretations are the product of relatively small basketry assemblages reliably dated to the Early Holocene from this area, as well as the questionable recovery context of some critical specimens. We report on the direct AMS dating of a number of basketry specimens central to this issue. Early Holocene basketry from the northern Great Basin does include decorated and complex structures; however, since most of the dated specimens fall toward the end of the Early Holocene, the evidence presented here does not provide definitive closure to the issue.

You can download the article

Baskets at Auction

I am endlessly fascinated by historic North American baskets and I wanted to share information on an upcoming Native Art & Artifacts Auction that will take place June 6-7, 2009. The auction is organized by Seahawk Auctions in Burnaby, BC, Canada. It will feature numerous baskets including a superb Apache gathering basket with 32 stacked figures ca. 1900, Northwest Coast basketry fishing creel, Thompson River burden baskets, 19TH. C. Haida painted spruce root hat, 3 fine Pima trays, Yokut basketry bowl ca. 1900, Klikitat, Tlingit, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Lillooet baskets.

I find that auction catalogs are a good way to find information about various historic basketry traditions. Of course you always need to view all information with an informed and critical eye because there is so much incorrect data floating around out there. Much more on the topic of basket collecting can be found on BasketMakers.com

I have also started a flickr Group where additional images of traditional American baskets can be seen.

Baskets of America Presentation

I often report on events involving others, but this time I am going to plug an event of my own. Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 7PM I am presenting a slide show entitled "Baskets of America" at the Fassett Studio of Wyoming County Cultural Center/Dietrich Theatre in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. The show will feature historic regional and cultural American Basketry styles and will introduce participants to the basics of recognition and appreciation of various American basketry traditions. I hope to welcome you there.

Spirit of the Basket Tree

If you are planning a trip to New England early this summer you may want to include a stop at an exhibit guest curated by Jennifer Sapiel Neptune. Spirit of the Basket Tree focuses on the rich visual dialogue between contemporary Wabanaki basket artists of Maine and the legacy of Native American basket making in northern New England and southeastern Canada. Active basketmakers Fred Tomah, Ganessa Bryant, Caron Shay are featured. The exhibit is taking place at the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire and is ongoing until June 28, 2009.

In advance of your trip you may wish to read this review of the show or browse the Brown Ash Basket offerings of the online shop American Native Downeast.

Shop owner Bobby Ann Packwood deals directly with many of the most talented active Native American basketmakers from Maine. She regularly offers vintage, antique and new Maine native brown ash woodsplint baskets created by Pam Cunningham, Joyce Tomah, Ganessa, Jeremy Frey, Gal Frey, Eric "Otter" Bacon and other accomplished Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot basketmakers. You may find sewing, corn, creel, carrot, acorn, strawberry and mini baskets made with ash splint and sweetgrass that include porcupine twist curls. Also holiday items such as Christmas tree ornaments and Valentines Day sweetheart baskets along with other traditional Maine basketwork.

Much more about Black ash basketry can be found at BasketMakers.com.

2009 Basket Calendar ~ May

2009 Basket Calendar ~ May
Originally uploaded by BasketMakers

I have created a set of 2009 Basketry Calendar pages that are sized to print out on 8.5" x 11' paper. Here is the page for the month of May. You can view the rest of them on http://www.flickr.com/photos/basketmakers/ and see more basketry graphics on http://basketmakers.com/topics/graphics/graphicsmenu.htm

Bamboo Basics with Charissa Brock

June 21-27, 2009 :: Studio Intensives at Shakerag Workshops, Sewanee, TN:: Bamboo Basics with Charissa Brock

Course Description:
Bamboo is a remarkably versatile art material. Its repetition of nodes, its hollow structure, and its flexibility create an inspirational challenge to the individual who wants to work with it. Because of its structure, it can be used in an infinite number of ways by the maker. Participants in this class will experiment with basic techniques and tools for working with bamboo including cutting, binding, riveting, and bending bamboo. We will create several small projects, including a bamboo and paper vessel. Participants will have the opportunity to explore creative options, each receiving individual instructor attention. Demonstrations in preparing and splitting bamboo, a slide lecture, and resource information will further help participants understand bamboo as an art material.

Location
Shakerag Workshops at St. Andrew's-Sewanee School adjoins the hollow by the same name. Shakerag Hollow boasts one of the finest wildflower trails in the area. The Shakerag Trail, linked with the St. Andrew's-Sewanee Perimeter Trail, is immediately accessible to workshop participants.

To view more of Charissa's work visit Cervini Haas Gallery.

For more on bamboo basketry visit BasketMakers.com

Craig D. Bates, Bruce Bernstein Publish Paper

Craig D. Bates of the National Park Service and Bruce Bernstein, of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, have published a paper in the Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology Vol. 4: No. 2, Article 4.

The article entitled "Regional Variation in Maidu Coiled Basketry Materials and Technology" can be downloaded courtesy of The Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology.

Abstract:

This paper is an attempt to clarify some ideas about the materials and techniques used in their construction. Thus, we are not proposing new theories and methods in an area where taxonomic principles already exist. Rather, we are using already existent principles of classification that appear to coincide with Maiduan views of world order.

For more on the history of basketry and collecting new and antique baskets visit Basketmakers.com.

Elizabeth Whyte Schulze at Snow Farm

Elizabeth Whyte Schulze is scheduled to teach a three day Adult Intensive Workshop at Snow Farm, 5 Clary Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096 on June 20-22, 2009 entitled SIMPLY COILED BASKETS.

Using natural materials, hand dyed raffia, dried iris leaves, pine needles, and an assortment of novelty threads students will sew and coil several baskets each with a different set of materials. The simplest and most fun to make is the Handmade Rolled Basket. The class will learn to roll raffia, colored threads and other materials into a long rope that will then be used to coil a simple, colorful basket. Beads, feathers and buttons will help make this basket special. This class will be interesting and fun for all skill levels. All materials are provided by the instructor and students will be charged a fee.
Snow Farm adult intensive workshop June 20-22

Elizabeth has informed me that she will answer questions about this learning experience. Visit her personal site to view her work or make direct contact.

For much more on the topic of coiled basketry visit BasketMakers.com.

Celebrate May Day With A May Basket

Make a flower-filled basket for a friend. Make a sweet small basket you can fill with freshly picked flowers or use one you have around the house. It is traditional to secretly leave these little gifts on the door of a friend on May 1st.

The tradition of the ancient Roman and Druid holiday of May Day has endured for centuries. It has been a celebration of spring turning into the pleasures of summer. Traditionally, a "Maypole" was the focus of the festivals. Even today the Maypole is used in the replications of old-time festivals. The Maypole is a tall pole in which ribbons are woven around by groups of dancers to make unique designs and patterns. Visit the page on BasketMakers.com for more details.