Baskets from the Edge: Antler, Ash, and Willow at the Bigfork Art Gallery

Art or craft, craft or art? Which came first? That question has vexed our conversations since the first stone implement was hacked out of a piece of rock. It seems that every item mankind has ever produced has sooner or later been embellished, enhanced or decorated, turned into a more sophisticated form, and called “art.” Utilitarian items take on an entirely new form and meaning and are celebrated for being “even better” for the addition of creative embellishments. Come and see what has developed from the early utilitarian baskets at August's art exhibit at the Edge Art Gallery. The gallery is next to the Bigfork School and is open from 10A.M. to 4 P.M on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Admission to the gallery and the reception is free.

Interestingly, while making baskets is one of the most widespread crafts in the history of any human civilization, it is very hard to accurately date when various techniques started. The reason is that most of the basket materials degraded and eventually disappeared entirely. Of the baskets found in and near present-day Egypt, carbon dating shows then to be between 10,000 and 20,000 years old. However, that is believed to be much later than when people first formed something that could be called a "basket" to gather food from the wild. That may have been as early as between two and three million years ago, but even those dates are pure speculation. While it is conceivable that early hunter-gatherers developed something to carry gathered foods, the Egyptian carbon dated vessels were more similar to pottery burial relics than to baskets.

That discussion is about the “tools” side of basket making; what you will see at the Edge Center is more on the "art" side of the topic. Basic materials used to transport just about anything have been altered in such ways as to completely transform their utility to into something completely that transcends their original intent.

Welcome to “Baskets from the Edge,” where three master artists will display and demonstrate their mastery of the art of basketry for your edification and enjoyment. Watch them blur the line between art and craft at our reception on August 3rd at 5 P.M. at the Edge Gallery in Bigfork.

Willow weaver Jacki Bedworth strides forth into the Red Willows every spring gathering the materials for her traditional basketry. Items of everyday usage are transformed into sublime pieces of ingenuity and art under the magic fingers of this delightful woman.

Fred Kogler takes logs of ash, strips them, polishes them, and weaves them into baskets artfully and individually designed for a variety of uses, from berries to bread. Fred has mastered the art of the Shakers and the “lightship weavers” who wiled away the days at sea weaving ash baskets. Fred’s display and collection of this sophisticated art form and his delight in sharing his passion art and history of baskets will delight and inform.

Cathryn Peters skillfully transforms basketry into decorative, award-winning designs, incorporating bold colors and shed antlers in ways that delight the eye and demonstrate the broad range of what basketry can become. Her recent entry into the gallery’s juried art show drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd and kudos from the juror. 

These three master weavers will be sharing their skills, answering your questions at an open house reception on Friday August 3rd at 5P.M. The gallery is delighted to present this exhibition of local master weavers for your edification and enjoyment. This is an evening you don’t want to miss.

On Friday August 3rd the Baskets from The Edge show opened with a reception that included the three artists providing demonstrations of their techniques. The opening was very well attended and the following photos shows some of the guests enjoying the show, demonstrations, and treats.