with Jill Breit
Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Reamer Auditorium, Union College
Folklorist and Executive Director of Traditional Arts in Upstate New York
Ash basketry in the Adirondacks originated with the region’s Native Americans and was adopted by white settlers who worked in the woods. Folklorist Jill Breit will describe the cultural significance of these baskets and explain how market forces influenced basket-makers to move beyond functional, traditional styles to works of great complexity and artistry. The presentation will include a description of how materials are harvested and processed, and what basket-makers are doing about threats to those resources. Breit will also bring a collection of black ash baskets from the region.