Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Cedar and Iris Fan Is Done

February 15, 2013 By Melinda

2013, Feb 11 016 comp

This fan is approximately 5′ wide by 4.5′ tall and 2″ deep.  It is made out of my favorite ornamental plum branches, Siberian iris stalks, New Zealand flax, and inner bark of the Western red cedar.

 

2013, Jan 30 046

I love the textures and smells of the materials while working.

 

2013, Jan 30 047 comp

When I conceived this, I thought I’d end up applying mixed-grass paper to some portions of the surface of the weaving.  But as I progress, I’m appreciating the straight-forward effect, simplicity, and the negative space between the seed pods.  This piece will be mounted on a spacious, light colored wall in a dinning area.  I’m hoping the seed pods and plum frame will cast interesting shadows that will change with the shifting light of each day, and each season.

 

2013,Cedar and Iris Fan, Melinda West

Now it’s time to get ready for teaching at IslandWood for my eleventh season there.  What fun it is for me to be able to meet elementary students from all over the region, to exchange teaching tips with a vibrant group of graduate students, and to work with the ever-inspiring education team at IslandWood. This will be busy spring. I’m fortunate to have been invited as a guest artist to teach 1st and 2nd graders at Suquamish Elementary School.  I cherish the opportunity to return to the grade school community that both our sons attended so many years ago.

I’ll do my best to keep you posted!  Happy weaving, creating, and imagining, to all.

 

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 1st graders, 2nd graders, Cedar and iris Fan, Elementary students, environmental education, inner cedar bark, iris pods, iris stalks, IslandWood, negative space, New Zealand Flax, plum branches, shadows, Siberian iris, Small Plant Fiber Projects, smells, spring, Suquamish Elementary, texture, Wall piece, Western red cedar, winter

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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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