The image of kudzu growing over trees and hillsides is a familiar sight in Southern Appalachia and the South, and though this plant has a less-than desirable reputation, its vines provide the perfect material for basket making. In this workshop, master basket maker Nancy Basket will show participants how to weave free-form kudzu baskets. As participants work, Nancy will also share Cherokee and Native American stories, providing a fun and educational setting for weaving together local knowledge and native fibers. Materials supplied, and participants will walk away with their own kudzu basket.

Cost: $35 for museum members, $45 for non-members. Some fees apply.

Location: Black Mountain Public Library- Education Room, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

Covid Protocol: This event will take place indoors and the workshop is capped at 20 participants. Participants are required to wear masks covering the nose and mouth and to distance during the event. Anyone experiencing symptoms of covid-19 or experiencing a possible risk of exposure is asked to stay safe and stay at home!

Cancellations: If the event is canceled due to inclement weather, attendees will be notified of a replacement date. In the event of a full cancellation, attendees will receive a refund.

About the Instructor: Nancy is a recognized master basket maker and teacher of traditional Indigenous basketry designs. For the last 15 years, Nancy has researched and shared her basketry and storytelling skills at Primitive Skills gatherings, Powwows, and through the National Indian Education Association NIEA as a presenter of traditional and contemporary baskets. She has taught basketry workshops in numerous grade schools, retirement communities, colleges and juvenile justice programs. Museums including the Schiele Museum in Gastonia, NC and the Barnwell Museum have purchased her work for displays on indigenous basketry practices, and she has been commissioned by movie companies to produce authentic baskets and mats- including for the film The Last of the Mohicans! Learn more about Nancy here.