Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Bloedel Reserve Residency Notes #2

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I am grateful to be in the fellowship of writers, poets, scientists, culture keepers, composers and art-makers of all types, as a participant in the 2023 Bloedel Reserve’s Creative Residency Program. There I was able to completely loose track of all the usual markers of time in my life. For me, the gift of time for reflection and discovery is an … [Read more...]

Bloedel Reserve Residency Notes #1

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Hello You, “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” (Mary Oliver) I hope this note finds you in a good place. I am writing during a residency at the Bloedel Reserve in Washington State. Here, the plants are in a frenzy of growth since the warm weather has arrived. Opening the door, stepping outside and breathing deeply, is all … [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