Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Passing Skills to Others

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Traditional knowledge of all aspects of the world in which we live is the foundation for much of the art, science, and technology in our modern world.   Pollen records indicate that Traditional First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest have been utilizing all parts of the Western Red Cedar tree for at least 5,000 … [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