News from Dunbar Gardens August 2009
Willow Basketry Classes & Upcoming Events
Garden GA-GA Skagit: Friday, August 21, 4-9pm at Juntunen Farm and Gardens, 18091 Burkland Road, Mount Vernon. This new event is a joint effort between Skagit Artists Together, Museum of Northwest Art, Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, Children’s Hospital Guild of Skagit County, and Economic Development Association of Skagit County. It will be a garden party with artists in action, live music, wine and beer garden, food, and tours of the beautiful Juntunen gardens with proceeds to benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital. Katherine will be demonstrating willow basketry and selling her work as part of this celebration. Tickets must be purchased before August 14. Contact Debi at EDASC 360-336-6114 or see the web link. Update: Tickets will be available at the door for this event.
Fall Collection 2009, Dewey Beach Artists at The Depot Arts Center: September 4 through 26, 611 R Ave., Anacortes, WA. Katherine has been invited to be a guest artist with the Dewey Beach artists group at their annual show at The Depot Arts Center. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday; check their website for the list of other artists, hours, and map. The opening will be part of the Anacortes First Friday Art Walk, September 4, 6-9pm.
Festival of Family Farms at Gordon Skagit Farms: October 3 & 4, 15598 McLean Rd., Mount Vernon (just around the corner from Dunbar Gardens). Katherine will be demonstrating willow basketmaking and selling baskets at the Gordon’s Autumn Harvest Farmstand as part of the annual Skagit Valley farm tour.
PAINT ME A RIVER! Art meets History: Skagit County Historical Museum, exhibit opening, October 10, 4-7pm. Exhibit runs Oct. 10-Jan. 3, 2010. 501 South 4th Street, La Conner, WA. The museum asked local artists to submit pieces that reflected their personal interpretation of some facet of local history. This exhibit with over 75 original works rendered in paint, glass, bronze, neon, photography, basketry, and multi-media, reveal a wide variety of interesting, amusing and surprising responses that Skagit history can inspire.
Basketry of the Pacific Northwest: July 28 – August 29, The Lab, Museum of Contemporary Craft, 724 NW Davis St., Portland, Oregon. Katherine has two baskets in a juried show featuring Northwest basket makers, traditional and contemporary.
Willow Basketmaking Classes with Katherine Lewis
Classes are two days; from 9am to 5pm. Class size is limited to 10. Cost is $165 per student which includes materials. There is a registration form on the website. Or you can send us your contact info (name, address, email, telephone) along with a $35 deposit per class session. See the website for more details.
There are still a couple of spaces available in each of these classes.
August 15 & 16: Round gathering basket or Oval garden basket
The gathering basket is a great beginning willow basketmaking class. We’ll make a round picking basket of locally grown and English willows. We start with a round base made by twining, a sturdy base wale around the sides, English randing for the side weave, and a strong handle to complete the base. Students who have made this basket before can learn a new weave, make it with a tall handle for a hanging flower basket, or make a taller version with an inset handle to use as a waste basket.
The garden basket is an oval project for those with more experience. The base uses twining and chase weaves. The sides of the basket include a sturdy 4 rod base wale with step up to three rod wale. It has a side weave of French randing and a sturdy handle wrapped with slender willows. Class at Dunbar Gardens.
October 10 & 11: Gathering basket (beginners) or Round laundry basket (intermediate)
Depending on each student’s experience, you can make a round picking or laundry basket of locally grown and English willows. We’ll make a round base using twining, stake up the sides and begin the weave with a sturdy base wale. Students may choose between different side weave options. The laundry basket is larger than the gathering basket, taking more hand strength and more time to weave the sides. Both baskets have the same 5 rod border. The gathering basket is then completed with a cross handle for carrying; the laundry basket will be completed with two roped side handles.
Additional upcoming class dates in Mount Vernon: December 5 & 6: Bread & berry baskets
September 16-20, 2009: Tidal Twinings, the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild Annual Fall Retreat
Katherine will be teaching two classes at this event on the Oregon coast. Please see their website for the brochure and registration. There were still a couple of spaces available in the zig zag oval shopper class. The deadline to sign up for Katherine’s class would be Sept. 1. Please contact the CBBG.
Farmstand: We are open Friday, Saturday, Sunday; 10-6 with fresh garden produce. Baskets are available everyday, but contact us in advance if you are coming from a distance. Katherine makes baskets to order; check out the willow basket gallery on our website for a look at the possibilities.
Photos: We post photos of recent baskets and the farm at flickr.com/photos/dunbargardens.
For more information about classes, baskets, willow growing, or our farmstand please visit our website.
Katherine & Steve
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