California Indian Basket Weavers Yesterday & Today

Yesterday & Today: The Symposium - Reconnecting the Artist with the Art

A California Indian Basketweavers’ Association Educational Program
In Collaboration with K.R. Martindale Show Management and California Academy of Sciences
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Saturday February 21 and Sunday February 22, 2015

Art of the Americas Show, Embassy Suites Hotel, 101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael, CA 94903
$75-$120 ($60/$100 CIBA members) tax-deductible contribution

Yesterday &Today: The Symposium - Reconnecting the Artist with the Art offers insights into one of California’s oldest art traditions, basket weaving. The two day symposium explores the challenges of identifying early California Indian basketweavers whose names were not recorded at the time their art was collected by museums and others. This educational program includes presentations by contemporary California Indian basketweavers, a study tour of “Yesterday & Today: The Exhibit” and of Art of Americas basketry vendor booths, and more.

Key presenters include California Indian Basketweavers’ Association (CIBA) Board Chairman and Master Weaver Clint McKay Dry Creek Pomo/Wappo/Wintun and Jan Timbrook, Ph D, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, who will explore how to recognize the characteristics of a fine California Indian basket; its possible origin, its materials and the techniques used by many scholars, museums, weavers, and collectors to reconnect the artist with the art. Other presenters include Benjamin Benson, Sonoma State University and Bryn Potter, of the Riverside Metropolitan Museum and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

Yesterday & Today: The Symposium topics range from how to buy a basket to art in the lives of California Indians. The “study tour” at the Art of the Americas Show will help participants hone new skills concerning California Indian basketry identification and evaluation and to visit the premiere of “Yesterday and Today: The Exhibit” to engage with California Indian basketweavers as they work.

CIBA is a non-profit organization established in 1992 with approximately 1,000 members statewide. It provides opportunities for weavers to convene, learn, exchange information and showcase their work and also offers non-members educational opportunities throughout the year, such as “Tending the Wild – The Workshop” which focuses on California Indian environmental stewardship methods that come before the basket.

Symposium tickets are a tax deductible contribution to CIBA. Registration details: 530-668-1332 or http://ciba.org .