Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Sydni Sterling’s Gallery

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It was a lovely morning in November for the annual Art in the Woods Studio Tour sponsored by the Cultural Arts Foundation Northwest.     On the second weekend of each November for the past seven years, the annual Art in the Woods Studio Tour brings friends, neighbors and guests from far and wide into the charming studios of … [Read more...]

Pearls of Experience

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I will have four of my shaped bark pieces in the Pearls of Experience exhibit at the  Schack Art Center, in Everett, Washington.  This exhibit will feature traditional and contemporary basketry and sculptural fiber-art crafted by members of the Northwest Basket Weavers Guild.  The opening is August 9th, 2012, from 5 to 8 pm.  The exhibit will be up … [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

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