Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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IslandWood Artist Residency Spring 2018 – Blog Catching Up

June 5, 2019 By Melinda

I’ve never gotten to teach with a baby on board, but having 7 week old Verite with us for some of our teaching time added to the experience of sharing sharing skills in a more traditional way – as a family. Verie’s mom, Kah-Ty-Ah Lawrence Moran, was team-teaching with me for the two weeks of my IslandWood Artist Residency in May of 2018.

Some students are pictured with their finished pouches. Each are different, yet share similarities, like us!

Students making Nature Beads from assorted fresh twigs of willow, Osier Dogwood, & Forsythia

IslandWood Artist Residency with Melinda West 5-2018
IslandWood Artist Residency with Melinda West 5-2018

Above, we had a small visitor one morning!

Above, students receive their diplomas which are little scrolls held by a section of scouring rush.

Kah-Ty-Ah is teaching students how to safely use the tools.

The most important part of our lesson about using plant materials, is to replant.

Kah-Ty-Ah did a wonderful job of sharing her Suquamish culture with the students from many cultural backgrounds that spent time with us at IslandWood this year. she was a delight to work with and I wish her well.

Jessica Henderson-Arts Coordinator at IslandWood

It is such a treat for me anytime I get to work with Jessica Henderson, who has been the Arts Coordinator at IslandWood for the past 11 years. She works incredibly hard to make sure the artists have all the materials and support needed for a great experience with the many students who come to learn from us. And she even remembered my birthday, riding her bike to work with a bouquet of tulips in hand!

I have such fond memories of teaching at IslandWood beginning as the first Artist in Residence in their pilot program in 2002.  And now it has been for sixteen years, mostly in spring, when the sap in the Cedar is rising.

Filed Under: Community, News, Students, Weaving Nature Tagged With: Cedar Mat Necklace Pouch, IslandWood, IslandWood Artist in Residence, Suquamish

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Recent Posts

  • Art in the Woods Studio Tour 2019 – Nov 8,9,10, 10am-5pm
  • IslandWood Artist Residency Spring 2018 – Blog Catching Up
  • One Year Ago – Catching Up – IslandWood Artist Residency
  • Gratitudes For the Cedar Exhibit at Heronswood
  • 2019 Basketry Program Workshops at BARN

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About Melinda

Thirty 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. The experience of weaving with the materials at hand while being together with my sons on a beautiful Pacific Northwest shoreline, kindled a passion for creating art from natural plant materials. 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

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