For my week 6 creative practice blog, I have learned
how to make a basket as a developmentally appropriate product for someone who
is in adulthood. Since I am in the adult
stage of development; established in a career, family life and under the age of
60 years old, I decided to create a product that I would enjoy. Being a potter, familiar with vessel forms, I
have always been intrigued with basketry but never had the opportunity to learn
how to make them. I have for a very long time wanted to make
basket vessels and have often thought simple basketry and weaving would be a
good tool on my art cart for adults.
Last week in Jamaica, I met an artist who makes baskets. He had a sign
that said, “Learn to make a basket”. I
was so excited for this opportunity to finally get to learn how to make a
basket, and be able to use it for my patient bedside art. So I let him know I would love to make one.
He grabbed a chair for me to sit next to him and began to teach me how to make
a basket. This was a very special time
of creating and sharing artist to artist.
He taught me all about how he prepares the “five finger vines”, how to
start, weave and finish a basket. We sat together for a while making baskets
and visiting. He shared about being an
art teacher and his culture. I shared
with him about my arts in medicine studies and practice.
When we were finished I purchased some of his
baskets for future basketry ideas since I could now look at the baskets and know
how to make them. He gave me a start to
another basket so I would remember how to start them and also gave me a rolled
bundle of the vines to complete it later at home.
Later, just for more fun, I decided to add
color to my basket using crayons and working with the natural weaved design of
the basket.
Learning how to finally make baskets brought a feeling of fulfillment in my adult stage of life. I am looking forward to exploring creating
baskets of different sizes and shapes out of a variety of materials. Basketry
can be appropriate for all the adulthood groups; ages 25-35 who are in an established career but don't have a family, or moms with small children. I have been showing my basket to many of the mother’s
of the young children I teach and my adult friends of various ages. With
excitement they have said, “You made that basket, I would love to learn how to
make a basket”. My response, “I would love to teach you, it is so much fun”.
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