A comprehensive informational site for basketmakers, basket artists, vendors of basketmaking materials and all others interested in the art of basket weaving.
"A site created by a basketmaker for basketmakers."

In the Spotlight

Tradition/Innovation:
American Masterpieces of Southern Craft and Traditional Art
This major endeavor includes a traveling gallery exhibition as well as an online presentation. The extensive online presentation features artist interviews, podcasts, visual galleries and national arts education standards based learning materials. Be prepared to stay a while if you visit the site.

The combination of contemporary craft and traditional art in this exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to explore the “threads” between two different approaches to creating artwork and also to compare the approaches of traditional and contemporary artists. The concept of mastery and what makes a "master" artist is prominently discussed.

Participating basketmakers include Clay Burnette, Herburt Jerome Dixon, Yvonne Grovner, Bessie Johnson, Mary Jane Prater, Henrietta Snype, Billie Ruth Sudduth, Leona Waddell and Carol Welch.

Tradition/Innovation will tour to one museum in each of Southern Arts Federation’s nine partner states in its first tour. Educational events at the various locations will supplement the exhibit tour: Tour dates confirmed as of January 2008 include:

March 1- May 18, 2008 Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA
June 7 - August, 23, 2008 Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY
October 2, 2008 - January 11, 2009 Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN
February 27 - April 25, 2009 Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola, FL
May - July 2009 Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC
September - October 2009 Sumter County Gallery of Art, Sumter, SC
January - April 2010 Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn, AL
Dates TBA 2010 Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi, MS
Louisiana: TBA 2010

Basketry Events
Basketry exhibitions, festivals, retreats, conferences, guild events, symposiums, seminars and workshops. Who, what, where and when. Upcoming events and reviews of past events of interest to basketmakers, hobbyist or professional. Call-to-entry opportunity listings and BasketMakers Events Calendar.

Google Basketry Events Calendar (beta)
A consolidated calendar of basketry events including museum, gallery and guild exhibits of baskets; basketweaving conferences, conventions, master level basketry workshops, classes, demonstrations and instructional venues; lectures by and about basketmakers or basket artists, major crafts shows, markets, festivals and sales events featuring traditional and contemporary basketmaking, along with call to entry opportunities for fiber artists and basketweavers.

At the Auctions
Nantucket Lightship Basket Purse by Chin Manasmontri
Martha Wetherbee Black Ash Woodsplint Shaker Pincushion

Art Basketmakers and Fiber Artists
Basket artists who specialize in the "New Basket" as an art form and have reached a prominence in their field.

Call To Entry
Don't miss these opportunities to participate in juried exhibitions, submit teaching or writing proposals or other opportunities for professional art basketmakers.

 

Buy the book

Craft In America A major project that documents the journey to the origins, artists and techniques of American crafts includes a 3-part PBS series, national touring exhibition, major publication and an online presentation. Basketmakers Dona Look (also see), Pat Courtney Gold, Ed Rossbach, Karyl Sisson, Billie Ruth Sudduth, and Mary Jackson are featured among the craft artists profiled. Other fiber artists including Jane Sauer, Nettie Jackson, Leah Danberg, Kay Sekimachi and Carol Eckert have work pictured in the fiber section and will participate in the CRAFT IN AMERICA: EXPANDING TRADITIONS traveling exhibition. Venues: Arkansas Art Center 4/13-6/24/2007 Museum of Contemporary Craft 7/22–9/23/2007 Mingei International Museum 10/20/07–01/27/2008 Houston Center for Contemporary Craft 2/22-5/4/2008 Cranbrook Art Museum 6/6/08-9/14/2008 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 10/11/08-1/18/2009 Palm Springs Art Museum 2/18-5/24/2009 Fuller Craft Museum 6/27-9/27/2009

Buy the DVD

What's New
Take a look around at what is new here on BasketMakers.

Plaited Basketry with Birch Bark by Vladimir Yarish, Flo Hoppe, Jim Widess Not yet released pre-order and save.

500 Baskets A Celebration of the Basketmaker's Art (Paperback) by Lark Books, Susan Mowery Kieffer (Editor) Newly released May 28, 2006

Fabulous Woven Jewelry Plaiting, Coiling, Knotting, Looping & Twining with Fiber & Metal (Lark Jewelry Book) (Paperback) by Mary Hettmansperger Newly released January 28, 2006

Celebrating Birch The Lore, Art, and Craft of an Ancient Tree by The North House Folk School Newly released November 1, 2007

Ultimate Basket Book:  A Cornucopia of Popular Designs to Make (Paperback) by Lyn Siler Newly Released August 1, 2006

Basketry Tips: Documenting Your Work
Helpful ideas, tips and suggestions for recording your basket production.

Free Basket Weaving Patterns
This is where you can find free craft patterns for a variety of basket designs.

What's In Your Basketry Garden?
Do you grow plants in your garden to use for your basketmaking? Find tips and resources here. 

Basketry By Material Type
Background, history, supplies, basketmakers, information, basketmaking techniques and tutorials, all categorized by basketry material.

Basketry By Technique
Chairseating, caning, coiling, knotting, paneling, folding, stitching, diagonal and straight plaiting, quilling, twining, wickerwork and woven splintwork baskets.

BasketMakers Chat Room
Meet other basketmakers to chat Saturday nights at 9 PM Eastern. The chat room is available at any hour or day to meet with a basketmaking friend. Just agree on a time and chat on.

Discuss Basketry In The BasketMakers Forum
Do you have a question about basketry or have a comment about a new basketmaking find you want to share? Join the discussions in the forum. You may enter as a guest and read any or all messages. If you would like to post a new message you will need to sign up.

Search This Site
Having trouble finding something you are looking for? Enter your keyword search on this page.