Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Betty Pasco – Recipient of the Bainbridge Island Museum of Arts BRAVA AWARD in 2023

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Here it is finally, full-on Spring where I live. The birds are singing and chattering, zipping by me as I wander through the garden. Thoughts of last Spring come around again and I remember being invited into the home of Betty and Duane Pasco. Betty is in her 80’s, Duane in his 90’s. They are both excellent storytellers because they have memories … [Read more...]

Ed Carriere Receives the National Heritage Fellowship Award in September 2023

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Ed Carriere has been working steadily for eight decades keeping Suquamish weaving traditions alive. I’ve always known him to be a unique and talented individual, a good friend, and a teacher. One of the lessons I carry from knowing Ed is that a love for learning can take you places you never dreamed possible. I am so happy Ed Carriere is being … [Read more...]

Knowledge is a Gift – Audrey Armstrong at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

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I have such gratitude for all my teachers. I’ve felt this way even before I met Joey Holmes, one of my Lushootseed language teachers who continually says with a big smile: “Knowledge is a gift”. Do we realize that enough? How do we use the knowledge that is shared with us? Does knowledge given to us come with a responsibility? What does reciprocity … [Read more...]

Audrey Armstrong Teaches at BARN – Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

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One month ago I had the pleasure of meeting Audrey and Scott Armstrong. They arrived at SeaTac Airport, flying in from Anchorage Alaska. There they met Audrey’s daughter Alicia, and son-in-law Kai, who had also just landed after flying in from North Carolina. The family had not had an opportunity to be together physically since pre-covid times. … [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.
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Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA