FREE with cost of garden admission.
Meet the Basket Weavers Guild of Eastern Long Island, a group of individuals preserving the art and craft of traditional basket-making on Long Island.
Basketry, the art and craft of making interwoven objects, usually containers, from pliable vegetable or animal fibers, is not only an ancient craft, but also a cross-cultural craft practiced by humans globally. Before moldable plastics were invented, weaving, braiding, coiling and knotting made everything from dwellings to clothing to ropes, dishware and containers. Modern basketry, which is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, is a creative art form as well as a responsible alternative to disposable plastic bags and plasticware – baskets of every kind are useful, beautiful, renewal, long-lasting and if need be, biodegradable. This is an Open Weave event – members of the guild will be working on their individual basket projects together. Guests are welcome to watch and ask questions.
Basket Weavers Guild of Eastern Long Island (BWGELI)’s mission is to promote and preserve the art and skill of making baskets for future generations. Members gather monthly and are generous with their knowledge. They share with each other their individual basket successes, experiment with new (sometimes very old) weaving techniques and discuss and/or demonstrate the possible uses of an assortment of basket-making materials like local vines, grasses, oak and cedar (instead of the traditional ratan). When possible, professional teachers are brought in to teach new techniques or the use of other materials. Members of the BWGELI can be found demonstrating their craft at local museums, fairs or parks throughout the year. Basket weaving instructors Tina Pearsall and Carol Losquadro have been weaving for over 25 years and are enthusiastic about sharing their passion for basketry with others who wish to learn this practical and timeless art form.