“Through weaving baskets, I learned to express myself in reed and sea grass, finding that interplay of contemporary colors and smooth textures where nature’s beauty and design overlap.”
My art form is basket weaving. Creating pieces that are unique, colorful and functional, I build my baskets with various types of reeds. Reed is the inner core of rattan that comes in many colors and has been cut into either flat, round, flat oval, half round, or oval shapes. Like traditional baskets that will never go out of style, my own baskets are perhaps more adventurous than their predecessors, emphasizing bold colors, shapes and sizes to be useful as well as purely decorative. Like others who want to fill our homes with little bits of ourselves, basket making became a natural fit.
Through weaving baskets, I learned to express myself in reed and sea grass, finding that interplay of contemporary colors and smooth textures where nature’s beauty and design overlap. My own style has evolved, and I continue to explore what the medium has to offer, always striving to make a stunning piece that is beautiful and can be passed on for generations.
Growing up in Somerville, where free summer art classes were offered to children in urban areas, I wanted to take basket weaving more than anything. I loved making things and itched to get my hands on all of those colors and textures to create something that could stand on its own. Unfortunately, being only 10 at the time, I was told I was too young to enroll. Life moved on and my artistic notions took adventures down other avenues including refinishing furniture, rug braiding, needle work and cut and pierced lampshades.
I find joy and expression when working with my hands. It wasn’t until I retired that I had the time and means to try basket weaving again. The minute I began to weave for the first time 12 years ago, I was hooked. I was fortunate to study with the very talented artist, Debra Rolfe in Cambridge, MA.
Before I begin, I first think about the type of basket I want to make and cut the reed into the appropriate sizes required, soaking the reed to make it flexible and easy to shape. I lay out the flat base with the wet reeds, then form the sides of the basket into the shape (square, round, rectangular) that I need, keeping the reed wet. Working up the basket, I stay mindful of the shaping of the basket and the spacing of reed. After completing the walls of the basket I turn down the sides, putting a rim around the top edges, and I lash the basket using filler such as sea grass. At this point the basket is complete. I place the completed basket on a cooling rack which ensures maximum airflow around the entire basket so that it dries evenly.
Website: KD Baskets
FEATURED ARTISTS