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Guild Meetings: 9/2021 - 6/2022

2021 -2022 Guild Meeting Programs (Sept-August)

June 8, 2022 (Wednesday): Cathie Harper - "Interwoven" - Zoom Only

Our June presenter is Cathie Harper, from her home in Yellowknife, Northwest Territory. I think Cathie is our most northern Guild member! Cathie started her career in the forest sector, so it is not surprising that her chosen art form started by using Northern natural materials. (vn)

from Cathie… “Interwoven”:  It is over seven years in the planning (COVID did not help), two rejections and over eighty potential pieces, but finally my six-month exhibit at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC) in Yellowknife will open in mid June. Yellowknife is a bit far to expect that many of you will be able to visit the exhibit in person so I thought I would bring it to you via Zoom. The June Guild Meeting will be the premiere as it will not officially open until the 10th of June.

The focus of the talk will be on the pieces in the exhibit. The story behind them and the materials and techniques used, and even the odd tips and tricks.

I will also talk about the limitations of trying to exhibit in the north, the challenges of actually getting the proposal selected, and then the logistics of actually putting the exhibit together.

Please join us on June 8th.  This will be a Zoom-only meeting. As usual, details on how and when to join via Zoom will be sent prior to the meeting date.

MEETING DETAILS: June 8 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).

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May 11, 2022 (Wednesday): Nancy Basket - "Kudzu Basketry"

Northwest Basket Weavers Vi Phillips Guild is celebrating our 40th year anniversary. What better way to celebrate than with our very first President, Nancy Basket! Here is your chance to learn about the history of our Guild. All one must do is Google Nancy’s name to see her journey of basketry. The most recent article about Nancy is from January of 2022, https://towncarolina.com/dream-weaver. You may also visit; http://www.nancybasket.com/about.htm

Nancy would love to hear some questions from our Guild members, if you have a question you would like Nancy to answer please email them to Vicky Nickelson, pinebasket@aol.com

In Nancy’s journey of basketry her name goes hand and hand with Kudzu basketry. What an abundance of basket material right at her finger tips. Kudzu is a quick growing vine that has become a pest in the southeastern US. It is known as the invasive Vine that ate the South. It will overtake anything that gets in its path: trees, abandoned homes and telephone poles. I am looking forward to seeing her Kudzu basket creations.

(photo credit: Paul Mehaffey)

Please join us on May 11th.  This is currently planned to be a hybrid meeting; Nancy will be presenting from her home in South Carolina but people will be welcome to gather at PNC or participate remotely.  As usual, details on how and when to join via Zoom will be sent prior to the meeting date.

MEETING DETAILS: May 13 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).

 

April 13, 2022 (Wednesday): Sherri West - "Ancient Craft for Modern Social Commentary: My Evolution as a Basket Maker"

I’d like to tell you about my journey as a student of basket making and how I came to find my voice through my baskets.   My years of learning about basket making and meeting makers from other cultures and environments around the US and the world has helped me to learn about, appreciate, and take care of the resources of the natural world as well as to gain empathy for others and their own challenges in times, cultures, and places very different from my own.

Throughout all of this learning and making, my basket work continues to evolve.  I’ve also learned that the baskets that I make have the potential to change behavior by telling a story, and storytelling can be a powerful way to change minds.  I am happy if the viewer of my baskets discovers meaning that causes them to think more deeply, to learn, and to begin a conversation with others. I hope that my baskets might even encourage greater understanding of the challenges of our times and inspire coming together with others to create social change.

Learn more about Sherri and her work at https://www.sherriwest.com/

Please join us on April 13th.  The meeting will be held on Zoom; decision to hold the meeting in-person as well will be decided closer to the meeting date. Details on how and when to join via Zoom meeting will be sent prior to the meeting date.

MEETING DETAILS: April 13 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).

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March 9, 2022 (Wednesday): ANNUAL GUILD MEETING - ZOOM ONLY - 6:30 PM

From the Guild Handbook, p12, Article VI Sec. 2:  “An annual meeting of the members shall take place in the month of March; the specific date, time, and location of which will be designated by the Board. At the annual meeting, the members shall elect directors, receive reports on the activities of the association, and determine the direction of the association for the coming year.”

Please join us Wednesday, March 9th at 6:30pm for our Annual Guild Meeting via Zoom. Come and hear about the state of the Guild, including our financial health, the status of membership, and an update on the plans for Retreat. We will also be asking for questions and input from the audience.  This will be a Zoom only meeting.

At the meeting, we will have our annual changing of the guard on the Board of Directors. We will present a list of nominees for the Board of Directors to replace those retiring. Meeting attendees will be asked if there are any other nominees from the floor and then asked to vote on the final list of names. Please refer to the Bylaws (p.11) and Standing Rules (p.16) of the Guild Handbook for a description of terms and duties for Board members.

After the vote the Board will break away from the general meeting for a few minutes. During this time, the general meeting will have show-and-share, so be ready with your latest accomplishments.

The evening will conclude when the Board returns to present to the membership your new slate of Officers for 2022.

Zoom meeting information will be sent via eNews email and posted here on Friday March 4th.

NWBW BOARD ELECTION, DETAILS:
For a list of the current Board members, their term status and duties, please see p7 of the Guild Handbook: https://www.nwbasketweavers.org/nwbw-membersonly/NWBW_2021_Handbook-Directory(v1c).pdf

We currently have 11 members on the Board of directors, which meets our Standing Rules recommendation of 9 to 12 Board members. However, if opening the floor to additional nominees results in more than 12 potential Board members, we may ask if any nominees wish to withdraw before the vote.

Leaving the Board this year is our President George Hart, and our Treasurer Joyce Lem.  Both have served 2 consecutive terms and must now step down from the Board. We currently have two nominees to the Board, both of which are retuning Board members. Below is some background on each of them. Remember we will vote for all the Board nominees as a group and not by individual.

Vicky Nickelson
“I have been involved with the Guild for many years and I am a past President. Our Guild operates strictly on Volunteers and by Volunteering to be Vice-President I hope to help keep our fun activities alive and well. I am also the Co-Founder of the Coiling Convergence. This pass year I moved from Kent and now reside in Yakima. I am enjoying meeting new basket makers here in my area.”

Karen Engel
“My name is Karen Engel and I would like to return to the NWBW Board as a Director.  I am thinking positively that 2022 will be a year with the Guild back in action with Retreat, events and classes.  Hopefully we will have times we can sit (maybe not quite side-by-side) and weave, learn and socialize together. Several years ago, I retired from the Board as a Past President after 2 terms on the Board.  Now I would like to remain actively involved with the Guild and have a supporting role on the Board.”

Please join us on March 9th to say thank you to the members leaving the Board and to cast your vote for our Board nominees.  Remember to have your show-and-share pieces ready to talk about. And again, Zoom meeting information will be sent via eNews email and posted here (above) on Friday March 4th.

MEETING DETAILS: March 9 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).

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February 9, 2022 (Wednesday): Josh Mason - "Apprenticing with Ed Carriere"

For our February meeting we have invited Josh Mason to tell us about his apprenticeship with Ed Carriere.  Josh has been apprenticing and traveling with Ed for several years now, not only learning about baskets, but about gathering and the impact invasive species have on our local fibers. Please join us and listen to Josh talk about his travels through the Pacific with Ed and what he has learned. 

Our February 9 meeting will be hybrid (Zoom and in-person). 

PLEASE NOTE: in-person attendance is limited to 15 (FIFTEEN) individuals (including the speaker), in consideration of the still high Omicron numbers in the Seattle area and our commitment to have a safe meeting.  If you wish to attend in-person you will need to RSVP (email) to David Chambers @ vicepresident@nwbasketweavers.org.

COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR THE FEB 9 MEETING: All those attending in-person must be (1) symptom free, (2) wear a properly worn mask (KN95 or N95 preferred) and (3) show proof of vaccination (including booster). No food will be provided due to Covid.

 SCHEDULE: The meeting will follow our pre-COVID agenda times as listed in the newsletter.  Social time and browsing the library starts at 6:30pm, show and share starts at 7:00pm, and Josh will start about 7:30pm.

Please join us on February 9th. You can attend and participate in the meeting in-person or virtually using the Zoom App. Details on how and when to join via Zoom meeting will be sent prior to the meeting date.

MEETING DETAILS: February 9 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).

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HOW TO JOIN THE MEETING by ZOOM:  Access Information will be sent by Guild eNews on Friday, February 4.  

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN A ZOOM MEETING:
you know the drill.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO ZOOM:
you will need to have the Zoom Client App on your device (computer, tablet, phone). The easiest way to do this is to go to the following URL: https://zoom.us/test
You will be asked if you want to download the Zoom Client, and given the opportunity to test your connection.

Alternatively, you can use your web browser to go to https://zoom.us/ and download the Zoom Client App (find and click on “Resources” at the top of the page, select “Download Zoom Client”, and follow instructions). Again, go to https://zoom.us/test to test your connection.

When it is time for the actual meeting, you need only click on the URL in the June 5 eNews email; you will be asked if you want to open Zoom, and offered instructions on how to continue.

TEST YOUR CONNECTION: again, after you have installed the Zoom Client App, you can test your connection by going to
https://zoom.us/test in your web browser, and following instructions.

Contact information for help will be in the June 5 email. But first, try the link: https://zoom.us/test

We look forward to seeing all of you!

March 9, 2022 (Wednesday): Annual Guild Meeting

March 9th will be our Annual Guild Meeting. At this meeting you will hear about the state of the Guild and reports from various committees.  We will also vote on nominees to the Board of Directors.  So far, our nominees are Karen Engel and Vicky Nickelson. Both have a desire to return to the Board because they enjoy the personal benefits of being involved in the Guild.

At the meeting we will also take nominees from the floor. We encourage everyone to consider joining the Board, and to read about the Board and how it operates starting on page 16 of the handbook under Standing Rules.

If we are lucky enough to have a Zoom/in-person hybrid meeting in March the Merchandise Committee will be there. They are excited to show off and sale our latest merchandise and t-shirts.

Details on how and when to join via Zoom meeting will be sent via eNews the Friday prior to the meeting date.

 SCHEDULE: The meeting will follow our pre-COVID agenda times as listed in the newsletter.  Social time and browsing the library starts at 6:30pm, show and share starts at 7:00pm, and Karen will start about 7:30pm.

MEETING DETAILS: March 9 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).

COVID RESTRICTIONS: Per PNA restrictions, in-person attendance will be limited to 20 people (more than we typically have at the meetings).  AND consistent with the State of Washington’s King County regulations (as of October 25th), anyone attending this meeting in-person will be required to wear a mask and show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours. We will be checking for these at the door.

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HOW TO JOIN THE MEETING by ZOOM:  Access Information will be sent by Guild eNews on Friday, March 4.  

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN A ZOOM MEETING:
you know the drill.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO ZOOM:
you will need to have the Zoom Client App on your device (computer, tablet, phone). The easiest way to do this is to go to the following URL: https://zoom.us/test
You will be asked if you want to download the Zoom Client, and given the opportunity to test your connection.

Alternatively, you can use your web browser to go to https://zoom.us/ and download the Zoom Client App (find and click on “Resources” at the top of the page, select “Download Zoom Client”, and follow instructions). Again, go to https://zoom.us/test to test your connection.

When it is time for the actual meeting, you need only click on the URL in the June 5 eNews email; you will be asked if you want to open Zoom, and offered instructions on how to continue.

TEST YOUR CONNECTION: again, after you have installed the Zoom Client App, you can test your connection by going to
https://zoom.us/test in your web browser, and following instructions.

Contact information for help will be in the June 5 email. But first, try the link: https://zoom.us/test

We look forward to seeing all of you!

January 12, 2022 (Wednesday): Karen Engel - "Finding My Roots"

“My native American roots go back to the 1850’s and 2 sisters. My Great Great Grandmother was Mary Armstrong Riddell and the lives of her descendants’ twine thru my life, this Guild and the present day Shoalwater Bay Tribe. Her sister was my Great Great Great Aunt, Ann Mustaq, a basket weaver known as Satsop Ann or Big Ann.  There are 2 old photos purported to be of Satsop Ann, both with Skokomish style baskets. Which one is Satsop Ann? No matter, I am drawn to both women and to their baskets. This year I found and bought a very old basket that reminded me of Satsop Ann and revived my desire to weave a basket in her memory and remember my roots.”

Please join us on January 12th to enjoy Karen’s presentation. Given current Covid conditions (1/6/22) the meeting will be Zoom only. Details on how and when to join via Zoom meeting will be sent via eNews the Friday prior to the meeting date.

 SCHEDULE: The meeting will follow our pre-COVID agenda times as listed in the newsletter.  Social time and browsing the library starts at 6:30pm, show and share starts at 7:00pm, and Karen will start about 7:30pm.

Please join us on January 12th. You can attend and participate in the meeting in-person or virtually using the Zoom App. Details on how and when to join via Zoom meeting will be sent prior to the meeting date.

MEETING DETAILS: January 7 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).

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November 10, 2021 (Wednesday): Annual Gift Exchange!

Barbara Osborne has done a wonderful job of organizing our gift exchange with 33 members from 4 states and 2 Canadian provinces signing up for this year’s event.  We did the gift exchange via Zoom last year and it was fun; both in-person and Zoom participants will share with each other through Zoom.  Come join us this year for the fun, excitement, and probably a few surprises.

This will be our first hybrid meeting where you are welcome to attend either in-person or by using the Zoom App.  As usual for this meeting there will be no formal presentation, only social interaction and Gift Exchange.  There will be No Potluck this year due to Covid; however, you may bring a personal snack if you need.

 

October 13, 2021 (Wednesday): Karen Sherwood - "The Gifts of Birch Bark; An Alaskan Adventure"

Birch is a remarkable tree found in the boreal regions around the world. The bark has long been utilized by indigenous peoples from Scandinavia through Russia, Alaska, Canada and New England.  Birch bark was traditionally woven or sewn, to create everything from cooking, foraging and storage baskets, to clothing and canoes. It is an amazing and versatile bark with a vast history of functionality merging with creative innovation.

This summer last Karen had to opportunity to travel to Alaska to teach basketry classes during the tail end of gathering season. Trees removed from a power easement offered an unexpected treasure in many sheets of striking bark.  With long hours and a little elbow grease the logs were peeled and bark pressed flat to later become beautiful and useful vessels. Through photos taken on this extraordinary adventure, Karen will share insights into ethical gathering and how to process and store bark.  A slide show and video presentation will help clarify the process. Additionally, examples of traditional baskets or containers from around the world will be presented to show the versatility of this bark. Birch takes us on an inspired journey bridging cultures around the world and past to present.

Karen teaches ethnobotany programs with the Washington State Department of Ecology. She leads online and in-person classes, sharing over 40 years of experience teaching the identification of wild edible and medicinal plants and the traditions surrounding them. Karen leads basketry classes throughout the county, as well as other earth centered programs through Earthwalk Northwest (https://earthwalknorthwest.com), a wilderness school she co-founded and directs.

Please join us on October 13th to enjoy Karen’s presentation. The meeting will be virtual using the Zoom App. Details on how and when to join via Zoom meeting will be sent prior to the meeting date.

MEETING DETAILS: October 13 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).

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Setember 8, 2021 (Wednesday): Cael Chappell – “Adventures in Africa, and Baskets" via Zoom.

For September we have invited Cael Chappell back to tell us more about is basket adventures in Africa. We had hope that this would be our first in-person meeting in a while with a connection via Zoom to all our members. Unfortunately, we are not quite ready yet so this meeting will be via Zoom only.

Cael Chappell has been working in African art and craft for 30 years. Traveling across Africa to meet weavers and other artists, Cael discovered that basketry is as diverse as it is universal. 20 years ago, he pursued his interest in baskets by founding Baskets of Africa, a project designed to support weavers in Africa by providing them with economic opportunity through basketry. The additional missions of women’s empowerment and preservation of culture are also fulfilled through basket weaving.

After being encouraged by weavers in Africa to try weaving, Cael began basket weaving in 2017. After learning the basics of weaving for a couple years, he now attempts to create forms and designs he’s never seen before, but that come to him in his thoughts.

You can enjoy Cael’s basketry work, and his Basket of Africa project at the following links:
https://caelchappell.com/
https://www.basketsofafrica.com/

MEETING DETAILS: Sept 8 @ 6:30PM, Wednesday (normal meeting day).