Middle Rotundo

I am an artist/maker who has been using basketry materials and techniques for more than 35 years. Drawn to the medium originally by my mom’s affinity for humble folk crafts, I found, early in my sculptural exploration, that the strands and woven patterns of basketry suited my obsessions with line, form, structure, and native materials. After a lifetime of “practicing art”, I feel more and more how fundamental basketry is to my life. My simple musings in basketry are enriching on every level: the satisfaction of bringing an object to life (or existence, at least) with just my hands and simple materials; the sense of connection to the earth and its cycles through the observation, harvesting and manipulation of these plants; a sense of connection to the history of basket makers through the ages; an appreciation of these processes as a metaphor for people in societies - fragile and vulnerable like strands of grass as individuals, we become strong and resilient when woven together.