Basketry and Weaving at the New Craftsmen Exhibition

'Join, Assemble, Hold ' The New Craftsmen Exhibition, London Design Festival 2023

In September 2023, I received a wonderful opportunity that filled me with immense pride - an invitation to create two exquisite baskets for The New Craftsmen exhibition, a noteworthy component of the London Design Festival held at Gallery 5 Brompton Road. The exhibition, aptly titled 'Join, Assemble, Hold '. This exhibition beckoned visitors to immerse themselves in the imaginative world of its creators, offering a glimpse into the meticulous processes and narratives interwoven into each masterpiece.

The curation was a magnificent array of basketry and weaving pieces, all meticulously handcrafted from indigenous British woods. These works were more than just aesthetically pleasing; they carried profound environmental and cultural significance. By showing materials on the brink of extinction and emphasising sustainability, the exhibition shed light on the delicate equilibrium between tradition and environmental responsibility.

The exhibition featured an illustrious lineup of basket makers, including luminaries such as Tim Johnson, Lorna Singleton, Joe Hogan, Michelle Mateo, and Rachel Frost. These basket makers, whose work I have long admired and I felt deeply honoured to be among them.

The first piece I crafted for the exhibition was a square-based cedar bark basket. I wove an intricate pattern into it, using bark dyed black.

The second creation was a sweet chestnut bark frame basket, where I seamlessly merged traditional techniques with contemporary design. It's essential to note that I sourced and prepared all the materials used in both these baskets from my local woodlands.

This exhibition underscored the importance of preserving both cultural heritage and the natural world.