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Traditional Willow Basketry
and Living Willow Programs for Schools
Bonnie Gale, traditional willow basketmaker
and a rostered artist in the Arts-in-Education program, is available
to offer the following programs. These programs explore the history,
technology, science and art form of traditional willow basketry
in a multi-faceted and interdisciplinary approach. Consequently,
they easily fulfill a wide variety of Learning Standards. All
projects would be developmentally appropriate to the age of the
students participating in the specific program.
I would love to explore the options of a short
arts-in-education piece (from part of a day to one day to multi
days) or a longer artist residency with your school or agency.
I welcome your inquiries!
In a residency, I can take willow as a medium and apply it one
of six ways. Most residencies incorporate at least
several of these approaches, such as a basketmaking component
in the Fall and a living willow structure built on the grounds
in the Spring. I have also had residencies that concentrated just
on the sculptural use of willow with paper. Residencies
can be as short as a day in length to 11 days long through the
matching funding. The six approaches include:
| 1.
Basketry
An exploration of traditional willow basketry and the making
of several items by the students. The projects are developmentally
appropriate for the age level involved. For the younger
grades, items to be constructed may be dreamcatchers, rainsticks,
random weave balls, trivets or Irish potato straining baskets.
In middle and high school grades, Danish Fruit baskets,
Easter baskets or baby rattles may be constructed . The
making of items fulfills many of the art standards. |
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| 2.
History of the Willow Basketry Industry
There was a willow basketry industry in New York and Pennsylvania
in the nineteenth century with many artifacts and evidence
remaining. For a social studies component, students can
explore the rich willow basketry history in their region,
with potential field trips to museums and surviving basketmaking
families. Students can explore a day-in-the life of a basketmaking
family. |
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| 3.
Sculpture
Willow is very appropriate as a medium for sculpture. In
middle and high school grades, sculpture can be explored
with the making of such items as willow and paper sculptural
lamps and other forms. This is an exciting component for
students and takes several sessions. Willow is used as the
strong structural component and has unlimited potential
for shape and form. Paper can be made by hand from the fiber
into a liquid pulp which can then be poured into a lined
armature shape, resulting in custom made paper to the unique
sculptural forms. |
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| 4.
Planting a Willow Bed as a Crop
The living willow component can be explored to fulfill the
natural sciences standards. A willow bed can be planted
on the grounds in order to supply a crop of basketry material
and as a source for living structures and charcoal making
as explored below. Students would study different sites
for soil, microclimate and aspect and then use math to lay
out the bed. Care and minimal maintenance engenders connections
for students. |
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| 5.
Living Willow Structures
In this component, large living willow rods are taken and
planted in the Spring into a living structure as in the
form of a dome, arch or fence. I have had residencies at
the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock and the Gwynedd Mercy
Academy High School in Gwynedd Valley where students spent
the second part of the residency involved in building structures.
These structures will live in perpetuity, only requiring
a small amount of annual pruning. |
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| 6.
Willow Charcoal Production
Another larger scale project is to take the willow rods
(which might have been grown in a bed on the grounds the
year earlier) and build a simple outdoor brick kiln. I have
simple plans from English schools where even elementary
students can build the kiln. The willow rods are cut into
pieces, put in tin cans and burnt. The result is artist's
charcoal which students can then use in their own drawings
or the school can have a small business in charcoal production.
Both this project and the structures described above, have
an ongoing and longer term benefit for students and agencies
involved and are very exciting for all. |
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I have had residencies in many schools in central
New York at all grade levels and for varying periods of time.
I have led the exploration of all of the approaches above. Schools
include: Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, Unadilla Valley, Sherburne-Earlville,
Morris, Otego and Candor Central Schools as well as the Susquehanna
School and Chenango Bridge Elementary School in Binghamton. In
Pennsylvania, I have had residencies with the Dietrich Theater
in Tunkhannock, Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in Gwynedd Valley
and the West Chester Friends School, west of Philadelphia.
In order to apply my art form for the multi-disciplinary approach
in the Arts Partners grant, I identify 3 main avenues:
- Math and the Fiber Arts
This approach was used in 2006-7 at the Candor Central School.
Students were shown by their Math teachers and the artists (myself,
Sue Heavenrich and Dianne Lynn) how math is a central organizing
concept in three types of weaving; basketry, weaving and quilting.
Students approached the three crafts from the math viewpoint
and hence were able to make new connections between subjects
as they wove their projects.
- Social History of the Willow Basketry
Industry
This approach was used in a residency in 2004-5 with the Sherburne-Earlville
School District and Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School
in 2007-2008. Through the involvement of Social Studies teachers,
students studied the social and local history of the willow
industry in the nineteenth century. These studies were enriched
through a visit to the Liverpool Willow Museum and visits with
remaining relatives of the basketmaking families. These studies
then formed a viewpoint for a study of traditional basketmaking
functional forms and student making of baskets.
- The Sciences of Willow Growing, Living
Structures and Charcoal Production
This approach has been used in many residencies in Pennsylvania
and New York. Working with Science teachers, students approach
planting a willow bed with the study of soil, aspect, microclimate,
access and varieties. Mathematical concepts follow in the layout
of the bed. Planting and maintenance are taught using scientific
principles of botany. Science teachers are also incorporated
in the design, layout and planting of living willow structures.
The building of living willow structures have been incorporated
into residencies at the following schools: Gwynedd Mercy Academy
High School 2005; West Chester Friends School 2006; The Susquehanna
School 2007; Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School 2008;
and the Chenango Bridge Elementary School 2008. The building
of a simple brick kiln and the burning of willow rods to make
artist charcoal is also taught with science and art principles
in a wonderful mixture.
I offer the following "HOW-TO-MAKE" projects that can
be completed in an hour.
- MAKE A DREAMCATCHER
Students will each make their own personal Dreamcatcher.
Bonnie Gale will provide a prepared and dried willow hoop with
waxed linen thread attached. Students will weave the web,
add beads and feathers and a hangar plus attach a card explaining
the Native American folklore.
- MAKE A RAINSTICK
Students will make their own personal Rainstick. Bonnie
Gale will provide the bamboo stick. Students will press
in nails, seal one end, fill with rice/beads, fill the other
end and then decorate and paint the outside. Native folklore
will be covered.
- MAKE A VINE EGG BASKET
Students will be provided with prepared hoops tied with a God’s
eye. Students will insert ribs and weave the basket with
a variety of fresh vines and other materials to create their
own special egg basket.
- MAKE A WOVEN PAPER HEART BASKET
Students will cut and weave a paper heart in two colors of paper.
A handle will be added and decorations. The paper opens out
to make a basket.
- MAKE A WREATH
Using a variety of willow and vines, a wreath will be woven.
Students will be able to add a lot of natural objects according
to the season.
- MAKE A STICK PICTURE FRAME
Using a cardboard backing, students will create a frame for
a favorite picture using twigs. A hangar will be added.
- MAKE A NATURE MOBILE
Students will tie sticks together to make the structure of the
mobile. Using a variety of objects from nature, students
will then tie their objects to the mobile.
- MAKE A GIFT BASKET
Using strips of card and ribbon, students will weave the base
and sides of this plaited basket, turn over the top and add
a handle...ready to fill with gifts and present to a friend.
- MAKE A BEADED BRACELET
Students will be provided with dyed round reed and will make
many bracelets, in which beads can be incorporated.
- MAKE WILLOW STARS
Students will be provided with willow, from which a variety
of different willow stars and wands will be made.
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