Basket c. 20th century

This small Apache basket at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is made from natural fibers and dyed material, woven in a concentric pattern. Look closely and you’ll see the amount of slow labor that goes into this kind of artmaking. I love the way the dark brown dye is used to create geometric breaks in the circular pattern, dividing the whole thing into quadrants. The way the basket grows out from its center reminds me of a spiral galaxy, the weave of plant fiber somehow becomes this kind of radiant energy, like you can see the hand of the artist as it builds and spins. Weaving, like painting, is a conversation between intention and accident, where the material pushes back at you, and it’s the same with the fiber in this basket. I can’t help but think of Anni Albers, another textile artist, when I see this piece, since both artists explore the push and pull between form, function, and the simple beauty of materials.