Barbara Green shows some of her finished basket products. Photo by Carol Hansen
View will be offering a number of instructional workshops over the summer, including a series of upcoming basketry workshops which will be led by Barbara Green of Green House Basketry in Old Forge.
Green, who formerly operated Head First Hair Salon, learned basket making herself at an Arts Center class a few years ago.
“When I took my first basket class at the Arts Center, it opened a door for me into another dimension of creativity and design, which I’ve done all my life. It’s a different medium, but I’m still working with my hands. It was just kind of a natural flip,” she said.
At her first class on June 30, Green will teach students how to make an Adirondack Bike Basket, a basket of her own design.She described how typical bike baskets are attached with snap-like fasteners that can take some time to release from the frame.
“But with mine, you can actually take the basket off quickly and carry it into the market or grocery store—and the solid base is removable so you can carry heavy stuff in it,” she said.
Green said she keeps busy with custom orders, and makes baskets for shows and demos.
And as the summer season heats up she will be selling her baskets at venues that include the Keene Valley Farmers Market on July 15, August 19, September 23, and October 7.
She will also be on-site at the Jolly Moosers Craft Show on Saturday, July 14, the Inlet Arts in the Park Festival on Saturday, July 21, and the Heart of the Park in Long Lake on Sunday, August 5.
Green’s Adirondack bike baskets can be purchased locally at Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company, and occasionally you may find her doing basketry demonstrations at Shelter in Old Forge.
Her basketry classes at View are limited to eight students, high school aged and up. All classes will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a short break, and students are asked to bring their lunch. At the end of each session students will have a finished basket to take home.
The class schedule is as follows:
Saturday, June 30 – Adirondack Bike Basket class. Learn to weave a basket with adjustable cotton straps and side lock buckles; Thursday, July 12 – Market Basket class. Learn to weave a basket with oak handles for trips to the Farmers Market; Thursday, July 26 – Bread Basket class.
Learn to weave a basket with pottery handles and a warming stone made by local potter, Melissa Macdonald; Thursday, August 16 – Adirondack Bike Basket class.
Class registration is available by calling View at (315) 369-6411.
