Offered: date TBA
Location: Commonweal Garden
Instructor: Edward Willie

We want to preserve culture, but we also want to think about the future. How does weaving fit into the future? What will the changes be? What new innovations will come along? We will have to develop a new paradigm of weaving, one that will be self-sustaining, innovative and traditional. What are the materials we have to work with in these times? What can we recycle and use? What are the needs of these times?

In traditional California, it’s a tradition to mix the old with the new. For example, when glass bottles were introduced, old weavers would weave a basket around the shape of the bottle. In respect and in accordance to this tradition, we will also be mixing the old with the new — mixing a twined tule weave with the modern stainless steel water canister, creating a tule water bottle carrier with a recycled material strap. The project brings together the old (twined weave), the present (stainless steel container ) and the future (recycled materials to make the strap).

This is a class for beginning and intermediate weavers.
Bring your own canister or similar shaped vessel.

Workshop Fees

$95 tuition

Instructor:  Edward Willie

Edward majored in Native American Studies at UC Berkeley. He is a teacher to both children and adults. He teaches life skills to preschoolers and basket weaving and other land-based skills to adults. He is an artist, herbalist and native ecologist currently furthering his education in permaculture. He has four grown children and is a long-time participant in native California traditional activities.

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