Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Clam Shell Rattle Necklaces

By

I was delighted to be invited by teacher, Peggy Koivu, to share the cultural art and science story that my practice of art imparts, with her first and second graders at their Environmental Education Camp retreat. Part of the Bainbridge Island Public School system, this was a class from their Odyssey Program, an alternative program involving lots of … [Read more...]

New Suquamish Museum

By

One sunny day this past September, something wonderful happened.  Like watching a birth, I became a witness to the opening of the new Suquamish Museum. Documentary film maker, Katie Jennings and I, were fortunate to attend a special dedication for this beautiful new museum.  How nice that "Crow" made a special appearance as we met for tea before … [Read more...]

Clam Basket – A Story By Ed Carriere

By

This 15 minute Cultural Art Film is Now Available - New Canoe Media After decades of dreaming, and two years in the making, this story has found a beautiful way to be told. For the Puget Sound Coast Salish People of the Suquamish Tribe, weaving baskets from cedar limbs and roots and digging clams are age-old traditions that come together in the … [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