Field Notes 2021: Ed Carriere

Explore Bloedel Reserve through the art, writings, and uniques perspectives of the Creative Residents during the time they are visiting the grounds. These entries give you a peek at works-in-progress, sources of inspiration, approaches to craft, exploration of new techniques, and more.

March 2021

Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere is a world-renowned master basketmaker, canoe builder and skipper, a totem pole restorer, and a cultural teacher. During his stay at Bloedel Reserve, Ed has generously taken multiple opportunities to share his work and his artistic processes with fellow artists and with the community at large.

Conversations in the Community

On Sunday, March 14, Ed Carriere and Dan Friday, Lummi Nation master glassmaker, discussed their art and the creative processes they employ at Bainbridge Arts & Crafts.  An exhibition of Ed and Dan’s work is on view at Bainbridge Arts & Crafts, 115 Winslow Way East, now through March 28th.

On Saturday, March 20, Ed conducted “Hand-Split Cedar: A Virtual Demonstration,” showing the ages-old technique for splitting the cedar he uses in order to make his exquisite basketry. This virtual workshop was made possible in partnership with our friends at BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network).

And Ed hosted a visit from artist, architect and Bloedel Reserve Trustee Johnpaul Jones, Bloedel President and CEO Ed Moydell, and archeologist and author Dale R. Croes. They discussed the importance of the botanical knowledge handed down through generations and the significance of nature as influence and inspiration for design.

Read More About It

Melinda West, basketmaker and creator of the blog West Gardens Basketry, visited and interviewed Ed at Bloedel Reserve earlier this month. You can read her article and see a video of Ed describing his own journey to basketry.

Ed and Dale R. Croes coauthored a comprehensive study of basketry in Re-Awakening Ancient Salish Sea Basketry: Fifty Years of Basketry Studies in Culture and Science (Journal of Northwest Anthropology Memoir Series) (Volume 15). The book is available in limited quantity at the Bloedel Shop, as well as online through Amazon.com. (If you purchase on Amazon.com, please consider enrolling in their smile.amazon.com program where you can make donations to Bloedel Reserve at no cost to you, just by shopping.)