Woven: The Art of Contemporary Native Basketry
April 2018 - March 2019 at the Portland International Airport (PDX)! The third installment in the Woven exhibition series featuring the work of twelve amazing northwest based artists including:
Woven: The Art of Contemporary Native Basketry
This exhibition is the third installment of the IMNDN traveling exhibition Woven, focusing on the beauty and power of contemporary native basketry. Making its Portland debut as part of the PDX Arts program at the Portland International Airport, this rendition of the exhibition highlights the works of several talented native artists who call the northwest home.
The artists in this exhibition come from a variety of cultural backgrounds and tribal affiliations, but are all connected in one way or another by their artistic bonds to basketry in its many forms. Some artists put a modern touch on time honored traditional styles and techniques, while others push the envelope and experiment with new materials, forms, designs and media including glass.
Each and every artist in this exhibition recognizes the importance of the weavers and artists who came before them. Master weavers and teachers have directly influenced all of those who follow. All contemporary basket makers learn either directly from an elder or by painstakingly studying the work of past weavers.
Today’s contemporary native artists, whether working with traditional forms and techniques or exploring the outer boundaries of what would be considered traditional, or even native, walk in two worlds: one deeply rooted in tradition and the other firmly connected to the present and looking toward the future. It is at the intersection of this delicate balance that we find the most beautiful and interesting works of art.