Basket c. 1910 - 1930

This basket, possibly by a Tulare artist, lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look closely at the warm, earthy tones. The overall effect is achieved through a repetitive process, each stitch building upon the last, just like in painting where each layer informs the next. What strikes me is the texture. It’s so tactile; you can almost feel the give of the woven fibers. And then there's the imagery. Figures holding hands encircle the basket, their forms rendered in dark, graphic lines against the lighter ground. Notice how the artist uses subtle shifts in tone and weave to create these figures. See how a slight widening of the weave can suggest a skirt, or how a denser patch of dark fiber forms a head or hand. It's these small, deliberate choices that bring the whole composition to life. Looking at this piece makes me think of Anni Albers who brought a similar sensibility to her weavings. Both artists embrace the inherent qualities of their chosen materials. It's a testament to the endless possibilities that exist when art meets craft.