Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Indigenous Beauty Exhibit at SAM

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Anyone interested in the high art forms of our North American Indigenous Peoples will appreciate this rare exhibit of the Diker Collection at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). In conjunction with this exhibit, on February 28, SAM brought in professional storytellers, dancers and musicians from many native communities who shared throughout the day; … [Read more...]

Seattle Art Museum-Feb 28, 2015

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I'll be bringing in some of nature's winter gifts for a kid-friendly hands-on experience at the Seattle Art Museum, on Community Day, Feb 28, 2015.  I'll be there from 10 til 3.  There will be wonderful story-telling and dancing to celebrate the Indigenous Beauty exhibit. … [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