“Bountiful Blessing”
by Andrew Harvier, Taos / Santa Clara / Tohono O’odham
Andrew Harvier
Description: Natural northern New Mexico red willow basket, 25.5 in. diameter. Willows of differing colors were hand gathered at various times of year.
About this Award: Awarded to the work whose quality showcases excellence in basket weaving.
Juror’s Comments:
Anthony Lovato: This basket is done in an older style that was almost a lost art before recently being revived in the northern pueblos. There is a lot of work in gathering and peeling the wood, before you even start making the basket.
Pam Lujan-Hauer: The basket is a traditional northern New Mexico grain gathering and winnowing basket. The materials are exceptional. Red willow is almost never seen peeled, with the bark removed. All the materials had to be gathered at just the right time, as the sap was retreating in preparation for dormancy or in spring as the sap is rising, in this case both, I believe.