Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

Growing, gathering, and weaving with plant fibers from the Pacific Northwest

August 8-10 Exhibit of New Work

By

If you are in the area, please come by and visit Sydni Sterling and I at her gallery-garden, one block up the street from the Indianola Dock. We will be open from 10 to 4, Friday through Sunday. Come by on Friday or Sunday if you'd like the "quite" village experience. Come on Saturday for the "Festival" experience of Indianola Days, with extra … [Read more...]

Untitled Pieces

By

I'm spending a lot of time lately, (and this has happened a few times before), trying to find a surface area, or a wall space in my studio, on which to work. New piles develop each week as I gather, prepare, and dry new materials that come into their prime. I organize the dried materials, trying to incorporate as much as I can into the many … [Read more...]

Summer 2014 Exhibit of New Work

By

Painter Sydni Sterling and I will once again be exhibiting our new work together at her charming studio in Indianola, during the fun summer festival of Indianola Days. If you just want to see our work, not the extra low tide and sand castles, not the street fair, not the delicious Salmon Bake dinner, then be sure to come on Friday, before the … [Read more...]

Gratitude for Winter Projects

By

Spring is here, and like most plant weaving folks I'm in the midst of all the designing, constructing, gathering, and preparing of materials that the season demands. But before I rush off to all the new explorations of materials, and adventures in learning through art-making, I'd like to express my gratitude for the work I was able to complete … [Read more...]

About Melinda

Forty years ago, while sitting on the beach playing with my young children, I made my first basket out of a pile of willow trimmings someone had tossed there. It looked wildly made like a crazy bird’s nest. While being together with my two sons on a beautiful Pacific Northwest shoreline, this simple experience of crafting with the natural materials at hand kindled a passion for creating forms using plant fibers. I thank my family, my community, and all my teachers for cultivating this gift in me.
Read More
Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA