Willow Basketry
Master Artist: Bonnie Gale
Apprentice Artist: Melodie Gum

Description of the Art Form

Throughout the world, basketry is one of the oldest traditional crafts. There is archeological evidence of basketry dating back to the Bactrian period approximately 1000 to 800 years B.C. Historically, materials used by basket makers were defined by the region of the world in which they lived. The fibers historically used were plant or animal fibers, including grasses, leaves, bark, flax, raffia, oak, maple, ash, walnut, rattan, willow, horse hair, wool, and silk. The available weaving materials within a region, as well as the ethnic or regional background of the basket maker, historically influenced the techniques that were used. Today, a basket may not need to be functionally durable and may only serve a decorative purpose or as artistic expression. Traditional basketry has been around a long time and basket makers continue to use the same materials an techniques. Although some uses for baskets may have changed, many remain the same.

Willow Backpack By Bonnie Gale

Bushel Basket (top) and Fireside Log Basket (bottom) By Bonnie Gale

Willow is strong, flexible and inherently beautiful, and has been the basketry material of choice over the world from the times of early man. Willow basketry made the Industrial Revolution possible by providing a medium for the necessary making of strong functional baskets to specific functional design and specific dimensions. This functionality is the legacy of traditional willow basketry, which was brought to the United States by European immigrant basket makers who wanted to fill the need for functional basket ware. The strong willow industries of nineteenth century Pennsylvania and New York, for example, are memorialized today in a Willow Museum in Liverpool, New York.

Bonnie Gale

Place of Birth: Corydon, England
Current Place of Residence: Norwich, NY

Artist Statement

Although there was a profusion of traditional willow basketmakers in nineteenth century New York and Pennsylvania, the immigrant basketmakers and their descendents have nearly all passed away. Through my traditional willow basketmaking, I hope to keep these traditions alive. I have been a traditional willow basketmaker for the past 23 years. As is the nature of the profession, I can make all styles and shapes of willow baskets from simple laundry basket to baby bassinets. I make my own leather straps systems for my creels and backpacks. I actively promote willow growing throughout the country and I teach extensively. Recently, I have entered the field of living willow installations.

Accomplishments/milestones

1992–2006 Featured as one of the “Best 200 Top American Craftsmen” listing of Early American Life magazine.
2006 Featured with living willow installations in the magazine “House and Garden.”
2005 Willow business featured in the book The Adventurous Gardener: Where to Buy Plants in New York and New Jersey.
2004 Large willow baskets featured on the film set of the PBS series “Colonial House.” Accepted as a master basketmaker in the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Apprenticeships in the Traditional Arts to take Patty Dillman as an apprentice.
2001 Rostered with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for the Arts-in-Education program. Awarded an Artist’s Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts.
1988 Founded the American Willow Growers Network to promote the growing and exploration of the uses of willow in North America. Started English Basketry Willows, a small business importing European basketry willows, books and tools.
1975 M.A., City Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Kennedy Scholar.
1973 B.A., Town and Country Planning, University of Manchester, England, with First Class Honours.

Melodie Viel Gum

Place of birth: Blossburg, PA
Current Place of Residence: Canton, PA

B.A., Studio Art and Art History, Mansfield University

Pie Taker (Left) and Willow Scrape Basket (Right) By Melodie Viel Gum

Artist Statement

I became an artist because I was born with a drive to create. I was first exposed to basket making in elementary school. Later, I started making baskets from books and pictures of antique baskets. Now I’ve started to collection old baskets and try to figure out the techniques and structures and study the history of basket styles. Many individuals have influenced me to be an artist: my family and especially my sister, Merry Dawn, who encouraged me as a child and provided art supplies, teachers both in high school and college, and other practicing artists. My family influenced me to develop traditional skills, to have an appreciation for historical method, and to do quality workmanship. They also taught me to be versatile and that you can always make ends meet if you work hard and have a variety of skills. They always stressed the importance of sharing knowledge with others and therefore allowing you to be both a student and a teacher. Other influences include my interests in historical textiles, crafts and natural fibers. I enjoy teaching and relating traditional crafts to nature, math, history, and culture. When I teach, I encourage art appreciation and give students the opportunity for self-expression within the structure of traditional basketry and other fibers.

I receive a great sense of accomplishment every time I design or create a basket, share techniques, or educate others on basket history. I love to make functional and yet beautiful art forms to enhance my life and the lives of others. Whenever I learn new techniques I always pass on my knowledge to others. In teaching basket history and methods I help enrich people’s lives in my neighborhood. I feel my enthusiasm for traditional fiber arts, like willow basketry, encourage interest and provides knowledge to individuals in my community and county. It also maintains the cultural history and craft of my ancestors. I see baskets continuing to be a part of everyday life for generations of Pennsylvanians to come.