Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Togetherness (Formed Cherry-Bark)

August 28, 2013 By Melinda

Togetherness

This summer, Sydni Sterling opened her studio during the annual Indianola Days Festival, and I was fortunate to show my new work in her beautiful garden courtyard. Sterling Studio has been on the roster of the Art in the Woods studio tour that takes place in North Kitsap each November, and this is where Sydni sells her contemporary and expressive … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: Art in the Woods Studio Tour, basketry, community support, Fall, Indianola Days Exhibit of New Work, North Kitsap, painting, sculptural art, Sydni Sterling Studio, Syndi Sterling

Art Sale Sterling Gallery July 19-21

April 23, 2013 By Melinda

Madrona Bark Vase, Melinda West

Madrona Bark Vase Sydni Sterling and I will be exhibiting our new works: Paintings and Gifts From the Landscape. Stay tuned for details. This is also the weekend of Indianola Days, with the annual Sand Castle contest, Street Fair, Salmon Bake, and Dance, among other activities. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: fiber art, Indianola Days, new work, paintings, summer, Sydni Sterling, Sydni Sterling Studio, weaving

Sydni Sterling’s Gallery

November 14, 2012 By Melinda

10-Art in Woods2012

It was a lovely morning in November for the annual Art in the Woods Studio Tour sponsored by the Cultural Arts Foundation Northwest.     On the second weekend of each November for the past seven years, the annual Art in the Woods Studio Tour brings friends, neighbors and guests from far and wide into the charming studios of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: Art in the Woods Studio Tour 2012, Cedar weaving, Cultural Arts Foundation NW, earrings, exhibit, Fall, Indianola, jewelery, necklaces, painting, pouches, Sydni Sterling Studio

2012 Art in the Woods Studio Tour

October 22, 2012 By Melinda

M. West, Madrona and Curly Willow, 10-10

Greetings to Friends and Fellow Art Appreciators! I’d like to invite you to Art in the Woods, an annual studio tour featuring over 65 artists, nestled in 24 North Kitsap studios, this November 9, 10 and 11, open each day from 10:00 – 5:00.     http://www.cafnw.org/resources/forms/2012/FINAL_AITW_BROCHURE_2012.pdf Please … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: art, Art in the Woods Studio Tour, baskets, Cedar weaving, Fall, invited, jewelry, new work, show, Sterling Gallery, Studio Tour, Sydni Sterling painter

Pearls of Experience

July 22, 2012 By Melinda

Last Two Coils, detail, M. West 11-5-2011

I will have four of my shaped bark pieces in the Pearls of Experience exhibit at the  Schack Art Center, in Everett, Washington.  This exhibit will feature traditional and contemporary basketry and sculptural fiber-art crafted by members of the Northwest Basket Weavers Guild.  The opening is August 9th, 2012, from 5 to 8 pm.  The exhibit will be up … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: cedar bark, Everett, exhibit, formed bark, madrona bark, new work, Northwest Basket Weavers Guild, shaped bark, stones, summer, Washington, wild cherry bark

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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.
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