The material culture of basketry : practice, skill and embodied knowledge

Format:

Book

Language:

English

Imprint:

London, UK ; New York, NY : Bloomsbury Visual Arts, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2021 and ©2021

Subject:

Basketwork
Material culture
Basketwork - Social aspects
Nature (Aesthetics)
Art and technology
Art and science
Basketwork - Therapeutic use

Contributor:

Bunn, Stephanie, editor
Mitchell, Victoria, editor

ISBN:

9781350094031 and 135009403X

Description:

xxiv, 286 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 26 cm

Bibliographic Note:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Contents:

Part 1. Materials and Processes: from plant to basket and beyond -- Part 2. Basketry as Maths, Pattern and Engineering: growth, form and structure -- Part 3. Gathering Knowledge: basketry as a medium of memory, belonging and evocation -- Part 4. Basketry: memory, healing, and recovery

Summary:

"The Material Culture of Basketry argues for the recognition of practical basketwork as a culturally significant practice, as a theoretically rich discipline which has much in common with mathematics and engineering, as a mode of sustainable craft and design, and as a socially beneficial source of skill and care. The book presents basketry as an understudied and under appreciated discipline, which in fact has much to offer the modern world. Contributors show how local knowledge of materials, plants and place are central to the craft. Case studies include an investigation of perishable materials and the passing of time, an assessment of craft 'culture loss' and a photo-essay exploring the theme of memory in Andean khipu knots. Similarly, the structure and skill in basketwork are shown to represent a significant form of textile technology, and the book argues that the patterns and geometric forms that emerge through basketwork reflect an embodied knowledge which parallels mathematics and engineering. Basketry's inherently sustainable nature is also considered. An illustrated case study focusing on the Osmia bee and thatched roofs casts new light on how we perceive craft and nature, and an exploration of recycled materials in basketry is included. And finally, the therapeutic value of the craft is recognised through a selection of case studies which consider basketry as a healing process for patients with brain injuries, and as a memory aid for people living with dementia. This reclaims basketry's significant role in occupational therapy as an agent of recovery and well-being. Above all the book envisages basketry as an intellectually rewarding means of knowing. It presents the craft as embodying care for skilled making and for the social and natural environments in which it flourishes"-- Provided by publisher

Collection:

BGC Monograph Stacks

Call Number:

TT879.B3 .M38 2021

Available

c.1