Berry basket 1910 - 1920

Editor: So, this is a Berry Basket made by the Skokomish Twana people, sometime between 1910 and 1920. It's a fibre-art piece featuring these striking geometric patterns. I am curious to hear about what is visible in this piece. What stands out to you? Curator: Well, the geometric patterns are immediately striking, aren't they? They're not just decoration; they are potent visual symbols. The stepped triangle, for instance, often represents mountains, a key element in their environment and cosmology. It anchors them in a sacred place. Can you imagine the stories this design might hold for the community that created and used it? Editor: Yes, it gives the piece a deeper narrative beyond just being a functional object. I never considered the meaning or significance behind a basket. Curator: Absolutely! Think about the cultural memory woven into each strand. The act of weaving itself could be seen as a meditative, symbolic practice, connecting the maker to ancestors and to the land. What emotions or concepts does this connect to today? Editor: Perhaps sustainability? The skill needed to produce such an even woven, long-lasting and useable form. This contrasts starkly with our modern culture of mass-produced, disposable goods. Curator: A brilliant observation! It encourages reflection about cultural sustainability and adaptation and considers objects in terms of what they carry from a historical standpoint. In thinking about these older works, do you feel we can ever recover the objects "original" context or intention? Editor: It feels challenging to know every original detail; context is constantly evolving. Understanding some context will always deepen our appreciation. Thank you. Curator: The pleasure was all mine. Considering our ever-changing relationship with art enhances its meaning.