This summer, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) will present Rooted, Revived, Reinvented: Basketry in America, an exhibition chronicling the history of American basketry, from its origins in Native American, immigrant, and slave communities to its presence in contemporary art. The collection features a variety of colours, patterns, shapes, and basketry textures that work together to explore a diverse range of cultural histories.
The rise of the industrial revolution and mass production at the end of the 19th century led basket makers to create works for new audiences and markets, including tourists, collectors, and fine-art museums. Today the story continues. Some contemporary artists seek to maintain and revive traditions practiced for centuries, while many combine age-old techniques with nontraditional materials to generate cultural commentary.
‘Basketry is a craft practice that, while recognised universally for its function, maintains distinct identities and ties to various regions and groups of people,’ explains curator Kathryn Hall, ‘giving woven objects the unique power to connect communities and ideas.’
Rooted, Revived, Reinvented: Basketry in America, 2 June - 2 September 2018
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 4848 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002