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Basketry: The Bridge
The
creation of this basket was inspired by my treasured friendship with Sarah
Chapman. Though we have often
been separated by miles and diverse activities, our love and respect for
each other has kept us close in spirit.
Sarah recently returned from an extensive time commitment as part
of a “Cross Culture” service team on assignment in Ghana. She is
pictured here with the children from the school where she served
as an assistant in the classroom.
Her gift to me from this faraway land was a bundle of thick fronds
used by the native people to weave their shade awnings, as seen in this
photo. I soaked the dense
fibers and split them down into small strips, bundled together for this
display. Because this
material is coarse and sharp on the edges, I used hemp for the
“coiling” process rather than the more fragile raffia used in my
traditional pine needle baskets.
The design for this woven vessel came to me in a dream, and the
heavy, clay African beads were the perfect accent to complete this Bridge
of Cultures and bring honor to the gift from my friend, Sarah (she has
in her possession the first basket I made from these precious fronds,
native to Ghana).
The
basket before you represents my continued effort to garner respect for the
old ways of basket making: gathering
and preparing natural materials, being accepting of the “design
dream”, and sharing the story the basket wants to tell.
Be
Blessed –
In
Ponderosa Country,
Judy Arledge
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