Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Exhibit Opening, Nov 4, 2016, 6-8pm

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Ready for a night of gallery hopping after all the rain? Why not drop by Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery for the opening of an exhibit of artisans works by BARN members. Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, or BARN, are a group of passionate artisans who will be moving into an amazing building in Spring of 2017. I can't wait to see all the … [Read more...]

Art on the Trail – Messages From the Land Exhibit – Oct 1 to Nov 1, 2010

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Once autumn slips its toe in the door the days quickly shorten. On the beautiful, crisp and clear fall days, there is still gathering to do. I’ve yet to collect cattail leaves and the stems of nettle and fireweed. The sweetgrass I grow at home, was gathered weeks ago, and is now dry. Rainy days like today, give me pause to review the summer and to … [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