Conferences, Shows and Exhibits

Basketry exhibit held at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The exhibition, Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art, is a traveling exhibition that was created by the Museum for African Art in partnership with the Avery Research Center. There are over two hundred artifacts, primarily sweetgrass baskets made in the Lowcountry. The baskets are beautiful and the exhibition not only incorporates the artistry, but also the cultural context of the baskets. Jo-Ann Caudill took some pictures of the exhibit.

For those of you with internet access, check out the Macy’s web site. Several months ago, there was an article in Oprah magazine about Willa Shalit. She is the daughter of movie critic, Gene Shalit and is the founder of Fair Winds Trading. She started this company after going to Rwanda to meet with women who were widowed, raped, tortured or otherwise traumatized by the genocide in that country. She worked with Macy’s CEO to set up a selling mechanism for women crafters. She started with baskets and is now hoping to bring textiles, jewelry and other items to the rest of the world through Macy’s. You can order baskets on line through Macy’s Shop for a Better World. The funds go directly to Rwandan women, no middlemen. These baskets are beautiful. Thanks to Terri Brenner for passing this information on to us and I am sorry I did not get this information to everyone prior to Christmas. These would have made great Christmas gifts.

** Paper Painting Supplies - Linda Miller will be getting the supply list for paper painting from Patti Quinn Hill. If you decide to purchase supplies, the best place I've found is Cheap Joe's. They are cheaper than any other place I've found and they give great service. The more you buy, the cheaper it is, so you might consider getting a group together. For example, their 140 lb Arches Rough Water Color paper is $33.95 for 10 sheets. Go to Michael's and the price is almost $8 a sheet! Tax and shipping is on top of that, but it's still half the cost of a local purchase. Check out their website. - Terri B

** Here's a good website for basketry info - www.basketmakers.org. You'll see a link to a new book that's out called 500 Baskets - A Celebration of the Basketmaker's Art. You can order from Amazon for (pre-order price) $15.72 (a $25 order gets you free shipping). Loads of great baskets!

** Native Indian Basketry - Here is a great site about Native Indian Basketry. This site introduces you to various weaving forms including coiling. There are some beautiful pictures and informative content about techniques. There is even a memory game where you match basket designs and the correct answer reveals a beautiful basket. Take a look!!!

** The Spring 2006 issue of Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot has an article entitled: Intertwined: Contemporary Baskets from the Sara and David Lieberman Collection."

** The April 2006 issue of American Style Magazine has a feature article about Contemporary American basketry entitled "Baskets Without Boundaries". The article is written by Kevin Wallace, co-author of Baskets: Tradition & Beyond. Basket artists including Arline Fisch, Jan Hopkins, Gyonky Laky, Dorothy Gill Barnes, Nancy Bess Moore, Ferne Jacobs, Lenore Tawney, Jeanette Ahlgren, Kay Sekimachi, John McQueen, Lindsay Rais, Charissa Brock, Susan Kavicki, Beth Nobles, Jennifer Maestre, Jill Powers, Judy Mulford, Carol Eckert, Karyl Sison, and John Garrett are mentioned along with numerous gallery owners, dealers and even the BasketMakers website.

** WEAVERS IMPACTED BY HURRICANES

The Louisiana and Mississippi weavers need our help. Please help Contemporary Handweavers of Houston put together care packages for the weavers to our east who lost everything in their weaving studios to the hurricanes. Weaving, spinning, knitting and basketry supplies of all kinds are welcome. Scissors, tape measures, threading/sley hooks, pins, knitting needles and crochet hooks, etc. all are needed as well as yarns of all sorts and basketry materials. The items donated can be new or gently used. Old canvas tote bags to stuff full of supplies would be appreciated, too. We expect this will be a long term effort as the fiber folks are all in different stages of rebuilding their lives. Your help is so very appreciated. Contact Deedee Woodbury (281-488-2742) or Linda Sura (281-251-1705, toll free 888-831-4262) . Send items to Linda Sura, 4907 Sandypine Ct., Spring, TX 77379 and be sure to include your name and address. (Info submitted by Judy Dominic)

** DYEING REED

Need help finding the right color? Not sure how to go about dyeing reed or other materials? Well, you are in luck. Rit Dye has a website that will tell you just about everything you need to know.

OTHER BITS OF INTEREST