Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Suquamish Museum Presentation

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The Suquamish Museum, in Suquamish Washington, is the heart of this lovely community, which was also the home and burial place of Chief Seattle. the museum houses the cultural artifacts of this ancient Salish community, from it's origins to the present. Every month the Suquamish Museum offers a free family film night. Tonight, filmmaker Katie … [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