CARSON CITY , Nev. — Working with Native American basket makers in the Southwest, Sande Rowan learned coiling techniques that she incorporated into her own work as a professional basket maker. Her Rainbow Spiral pine needle basket is among the items featured in “Pine Spirit,” an exhibit of her work displayed Feb. 2-20 at the Legislative eXhibition Series Gallery inside the Nevada Legislative Building.
Gathering pine needles while hiking in the Sierra provided Rowan with a deep connection to the natural world. The majestic trees she encounters give their energy to the work, Rowan said. Her baskets use a variety of bindings and adornments. Attaching the pine needle coil to clay and turned wooden bowls gives the artist a broader canvas.
Rowan said she enjoys working with students, teaching and passing on the ancient art form. She teaches workshops and classes at guilds, retreats and private classes in the West. She recently taught a series of classes for the Great Basin Basket Makers’ Carson City outreach program.
Rowan is the author of “Pine Spirit: A Modern Approach to the Ancient Art of Coiled Basket Making.”
For more information, email [email protected].
The Legislative eXhibition Series, managed by the Nevada Arts Council’s Artist Services Program, has showcased the Silver State’s contemporary and folk artists during legislative sessions since 1985. The 2015 LXS Series is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Nevada State Legislature and Van Woert Bigotti Architects.
The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, is the agency charged with ensuring that state and national funds support cultural activity and encourage participation in the arts throughout Nevada. In addition to providing hundreds of grants to arts- and community-based organizations, schools, artists and local municipalities throughout the state, the NAC coordinates a variety of statewide programs and activities such as the annual Poetry Out Loud recitation competition for high school-aged students , traveling exhibits, artist residencies, workshops and cultural assessments. For more information, call 775-687-6680 or visit the website nac.nevadaculture.org.
