Basket before 1922

This Basket was woven with fibers by a Tohono O’odham artist, and you can see it at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Isn’t it lovely? I can almost feel the artist’s hands as they patiently coiled and stitched, round and round. I bet they worked on it over many days, maybe even weeks. I think of the basket as a drawing in the round. The careful placement of the darker fibers creates a checkered pattern that feels so grounded. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids, but softer, more organic. And that gentle curve! It invites you to reach in and fill it with something precious. This basket, like a painting, invites contemplation, offering a quiet but powerful presence. The Tohono O’odham and other artists show how creativity transcends time and tradition.