Why? For the love of baskets, period. Well, not period. For the love of form, texture, black ash splint, concept, process, connection, history.
Many years ago I followed in my mom’s footsteps weaving “fanny” baskets with reed until I held a reproduction Shaker basket made of black ash splint. My heart raced, my mouth dried, the room fogged – love at first touch!
Studying the Shakers’ methods and standards allowed me to develop my own system and perfect sound production techniques. After 30 plus years I am now able to expand new ideas and designs with confidence. I am drawn to tease splints of ash wood to my mind’s images – structural, conceptual, textural – creating striking traditional baskets with a more contemporary feel that still shows evidence of my Shaker basketry roots. My “North of Boston” basket was inspired by a fellow New Englander: Robert Frost, poet, and his wonderful 1914 collection entitled “North of Boston”. What could be more perfect for New Hampshire than hemlock trees and mountains?
My work is internationally recognized having won awards both in this country and in Europe. I am extremely honored that my baskets are included in the Cole-Ware Collection of American Baskets in the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Arts Museum in Washington, D.C., the Wicker Museum in Novy Tomysl, Poland, A Measure of the Earth: the Cole-Ware Collection of American Baskets, and in Lark Books 500 Baskets.
For more information visit her website: Sharon Dugan