“Natural and wild places have always been a source of inspiration fueling my spirit and imagination.”
Melinda West, of Indianola Washington, has been practicing the art of plant fiber weaving since 1985. She has studied with many native and non-native weavers and artists, the foremost being Ed Carriere of the Suquamish Tribe. Her inspiration comes from nature and the First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest whose cultures embrace the rich traditions of plant fiber use, knowledge in the land, and artistic skills development in all aspects of life. Melinda enjoys sharing her love of natural history, environmental stewardship, and an appreciation of Indigenous cultures through the arts, teaching at the Seattle Art Museum, Olympic College, Coupeville Art Center, North Cascades Institute, Olympic Park Institute and IslandWood. Melinda’s award-winning art is on display in public and private collections and her work has been featured in books and magazines.
More at her website – Melinda West