Friday Fibers Roundup: Baskets

January 25, 2019

This week’s Friday Fibers Roundup features a mix of articles focusing on weaving, specifically basket weaving and the techniquest, artists, and exhibitions surround it.

---

Access to sweetgrass key for artists at Maine Indian Basketmakers Holiday Market

“Access to Sweetgrass key for Artists at Maine Indian Basketmakers Holiday Market” spotlights Micmac Donna Sanipass’ spectacular, detailed pinecone baskets made of brown ash and sweetgrass. They will be a part of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Holiday Market (December 8th) at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine.

This video shows the Tsuzure Ori weaving technique for kimono fabric unique to Japan. Colored threads are woven and nails shaped like a saw-teeth are used to fix the threads.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/qvmg9b/post-apocalyptic-e-waste-looms-kati-hyyppa
“These Post-Apocalyptic Looms Were Made From E-Waste” by Matthew Gault looks at a variety of looms created from the millions of used electronics that live in landfills (via Motherboard).

https://pen-online.com/design/du-marketing-au-bambou-la-reconversion-de-hajime-nakatomi-2/
“From Marketing to Bamboo, Hajime Nakatomi’s Radical Career Transformation” is a gallery of images that showcase the stunning basketry of Hajime Nakatomi (via Pen).

https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/ev8j5z/weaving-art-womens-work
“Is Weaving ‘Women’s Work’?” (kind of outdated title, but it’s Vice I guess) by Zio Baritaux looks at six artists using contemporary narratives within their tapestry works; from selfies and sex to periods and politics.

It’s No Basket Case: This Exhibition Wants to Show You a New History of Weaving

“It’s No Basket Case: This Exhibition Wants to Show You a New History of Weaving” by Anna Zappia looks at the annual exhibition, Rooted, Revived, Reinvented: Basketry in America. The show was on display at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft chronicles the history of baskets in the U.S., from their humble origins to contemporary art status (via Metropolis).

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-45996232/anni-albers-how-textile-artist-s-pictoral-weavings-inspire?fbclid=IwAR1gwcfpdgXPeor78EFOb9j6siE86yZO3EwcGjf51omfsEeEDwxOSF-5qTI VIDEO
“Anni Albers: How Textile Artist’s Pictoral Weavings Inspire” is a video excerpt on forthcoming documentary on Anni Albers airing on BBC Four in 2019.

85 Rare and Vibrant Coptic Textiles Find a Home at Queens College

“85 Rare and Vibrant Coptic Textiles Find a Home at Queens College” by Allison Meier examines how the Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College recently acquired 85 Coptic textiles from the 3rd to 7th century Egypt, a rare gift that will be a teaching resource for its students (via Hyperallergic).

This video shows how Cherokee mixed-media artist, Shan Goshorn, uses treaties, documents containing the Cherokee language, and recent legislation affecting Native Americans to weave baskets that show people the documents’ relevance (via Fire Thief Studios).

The Enduring Influence of Ikat Fabric, from Oscar de la Renta to Contemporary Design

“The Enduring Influence of Ikat Fabric, from Oscar de la Renta to Contemporary Design” by Vanessa H. Larson looks at how Ikat patterns have become enormously popular in both fashion and interior design, but most consumers seem to be ignorant of the textile’s cultural origins (via Hyperallergic).