A day-long seminar organized by the Friends of the Lake County Museum showcased the artistry of Pomo basket-weaving with accompanying ecological concerns.
“Cultural Storytelling of Pomo Basketry” took place Saturday, March 24, at the Robinson Rancheria Conference Center near Upper Lake. The event featured artisans and storytellers from several local and neighboring tribes and especially showcased the work of Julia Parker, a master weaver from Yosemite.
By teaching local classes, Parker has aided the resurrection of traditional basket weaving among some of the local tribes, which have secured business enterprise grants from the U.S. Department of Forestry.
Some of the other notables whose work was showcased March 24 included Lala Buoncrista, Donna Gitchell, Meyo Marrufo, Luwana Quitiquit and Ardith Read; with storytellers Steve Elliott and Betty Nitka.
The day-long seminar proved to be an immensely popular event. A large turnout of people, plus the tables and chairs to accommodate them, left little room to navigate within the convention center. Additional tables in the hallway showcased artisans’ wares.
Speakers’ presentations touched upon ecological concerns including basketry plants’ benefits to the environment, such as stream bed preservation. Other presentations concerned the impacts of pesticide use. Weavers are placed at risk during the gathering and preparing of materials due to applications of pesticides. Museum collections may also be treated with pesticides in order to preserve the exhibits.
Other upcoming events also showcase Native American artistry. The 17th annual California Indian Basket Weavers Gathering takes place Saturday, June 23, and Sunday, June 24, also at Robinson Rancheria.
The event features a showcase of baskets and other items created by master weavers and their students during the past year. Basketweavers from throughout the state will give live demonstrations of their art. Visit the California Indian Basketweavers' Association Web site, www.ciba.org, for more information about the California Indian Basketweavers Gathering.
Published in the Lake County Record-Bee
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