Weavers of the Earth

Yesterday I went to the Pink Palace museum to see their current exhibit, Weavers of the Earth: Native American Baskets. The musem website says the exhibit includes 166 baskets and 40 framed Edward S. Curtis 19th century photogravures of American Indians and their baskets. There are also botanical drawings by University of Memphis art student Corie Walker of the plants used in making the baskets.

I remember making a basket at church camp one year, and that attempt gives me a real appreciation for the skill involved here.

This slideshow shows pictures of some of the works presented:

Here's a picture of the promotional card:

The review at Go Memphis closes with this:

It would take much examination and perhaps much training to be able to recognize subtle differences in styles and techniques among the many peoples represented here, so the best approach for visitors is probably to let themselves go and enjoy each object for its own decorative principles, individuality and anonymous sense of history.

The baskets are beautiful. There is a variety of design, size and purpose represented, from a tiny basket thimble to burden baskets to baskets used in harvesting and winnowing to storage baskets. They vary by age, also, from 2 fragments from cliffdwellers (one from Camp Verde and one from Mesa Verde) dating 500-1300 C.E., to a North Carolina Cherokee single weave basket dated 1980.

The baskets made from pine needles fascinate me. There are several of those from the Seminole and Creek. I had never heard of a "wedding basket" before, and there are several of those in the exhibit. I looked for information online, and it seems these serve as a chart or map of life.

Edward S. Curtis' photos show the Native Americans, usually singly, posing or engaged in everyday activities. Some pictures are of habitats and don't include people. According to information provided in this exhibit, there was controversy over his staging of the subjects and his payments to them for their assistance. He reportedly called his work "accurate but artistic," if I remember correctly.

The exhibit was very interesting. There were 2 people stationed in the exhibit space, and they were friendly and informative. It had been a long time since I had been to the Pink Palace, and I enjoyed myself.