Inspired by the spirit of the French Moderns exhibition, and the palette of Renoir, this one-day basketry class blends painterly color with contemporary form. Students will work with specially and exclusively hand-dyed reed created through a unique process that produces a soft watercolor effect. Using chase weave techniques over a solid wooden base, participants will shape a graceful bowl-form basket that highlights movement, color, and texture. Open to all skill levels, this class offers both technical instruction and artistic exploration, resulting in a functional piece with a distinctly modern aesthetic. All materials and light refreshments included.
In addition to being an instructor, Traycee is a professional basket weaver at Craftisinal Creative Works–her creative arts studio right here in Pittsburgh. She is a staff member of the Handweavers Guild of America and communications team member of the Fiber Arts Guild of Pittsburgh. With over 1000 works in several different weaving styles under her belt, you can find her weaving in homes all across the US.
Basketweaving is an ancient art that crosses nearly all time, geographic, political, and social boundaries. It’s rooted in history, mathematics and pattern, color theory and design–with so much to offer–yet it’s nearly a lost art. Traycee has made it her mission to share her love for this once ubiquitous and critical skill with people of all ages. She draws on her own personal basketweaving journey and decades of experience as a folk artist and marketer to spread the word and love for the basketweaving arts by developing kits and training videos, teaching public and private classes, and doing live demonstrations for local community days.
Traycee’s classes are fun, informative, and personalized! She provides hands-on, individualized instruction using her own specially designed basket kits to teach the fundamentals of the art and meet each student where they are in their skill level.