Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

New Work – 2011 Art in the Woods

By

Here's a sneak preview of some new work in wild cherry bark.  I've got many more pieces yet to be photographed where I've used a variety of barks I've been collecting over the years.  What fun it is to finally make the time to work with materials I've been collecting and preserving for so many years! I'll be presenting … [Read more...]

Art In the Woods 2010 – A Self-guided Studio Tour – Nov 12,13,14

By

  Large Canoe Bailer-style Vessel of Cedar Bark and Root and Driftwood   Cherry Bark on Stones The Cultural Arts Foundation NW is once again sponsoring a tour of 19 Studios in the North Kitsap area, featuring 49 artists.  I will be in #16 - Sterling Studio, 20487 Indianola Rd NE, Indianola, WA … [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