I became fascinated with the art of basket weaving watching her father weave chair seats and baskets using natural materials. I felt a special kinship with the earth and its inhabitants.
Over the past 30 years, I have learned to belnd a rich cultural heritage and contemporary artistic vision to create her own unique art form using pineneedles, gourds, cornshucks and other natural materials.
Weaving basktes with native Mississippi materials takes me back to some ofmy dearest childhood memories. I consider this to be an artistic link to my African forefathers. It is as much of my family's legacy as any genetic inheritance.
I use longleaf pineneedles which grow along the southern border of the Gulf states. A special decorating technique used in my pineneedle baskets is a wheel or ring made from the cross section of sliced black walnuts. My most beautiful pieces of pineneedle work contain one or more wheels of various sizes.
My gourd baskets are embellished with pineneedles and chinaberries. This decorative technique is applied through pre-worked holes in the gourd wall. Gourd mache, made from the innards of the gourds, is patted inside the gourd bowl baskets to cover holes and stitches. Gourd basketry is an artistic link to my African forefathers and a heritage I refuse to let die despite modern day threats to its survival. Every time I create a basket, I give new life to a craft that is age old.
Cornshuck baskets- cornshucks are coiled into a "rope". This prepares the shucks to be woven over a pre-shape frame for the basket.
My baskets have been praised for their remarkable symmetry, beauty and innovative style. My achievement as a craftsperson and designer of basketry have brought me increasing distinction and prominence in this field. I have exhibited widely judged shows in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. I have won numerous awards in art shows and festivals like:
also click on links where I'll be presenting in "2004"
Prairie Arts Festival
- West Point, MS
Kentuck Festival - Northport, AL
Calico Festival - Columbus, MS
Oxford Forklore Festival - Oxford, MS
Crosstie Festival - Cleveland, MS
Gumtree Festival - Tupelo, MS
Arts in the Park Festival - Meridian, MS
Helen Keller Festival - Tusumbia, AL
Heritage Festival - Jackson, MS
1981 - I created a pineneedle video tape giving step-by-step instructions on pineneedle basket weaving for Mississippi State University Extension Service. This tape was used by area county Extension Agents throughout the state.
1983 - I was featured demonstrating pine needle basket weaving on ETV's "Mississippi Roads" episode.
1984 - I exhibited and demonstrated 7 days at the World's Fair in Louisiana.
1985 - I was awarded a grant from the Mississippi Art Commission Folk Art Apprentices Program to teach pineneedle basket weaving to an apprentice.
1992 - I was selected as a charter instructor in basketry for Allison's School of Arts & Craft in Canton, MS.
1994 - I designed and made chinaberry ornaments for the Mississippi Christmas tree in the circle of state trees surrounding the taller United States tree displayed at the White House throughout the holiday season.
1995 - The Mississippi Consortium for International Development selected me to teach pineneedle and gourd basket weaving to 40 Guatemalan artisans.
I have taught basket weaving in the Continued Education Department at Mississippi State
University in Starkville, MS - Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, MS - Ole Miss
in Oxford, MS, Jackson State University in Jackson, MS, Meridian Jr. College in Meridian, MS
and Milsap Jr. College in Jackson, MS.
I have also taught many classes for community groups.
If you see something you like e-mail or write me:
2681 E. Tibbee Road
West Point, MS 39773
or call (662) 494-2813
Home |
|
See something you like? |