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Jewel, 1999, Charm, 2001, and Cherry Jubilee, 2006, Shaker and New England basketry,
JoAnn Kelly Catsos (b. 1956)
Ashley Falls, Massachusetts
Black ash splint
Overall: 6 7/8 x 9 3/8 in.
Private Collection
Photography by Jason Dowdle
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Miniatures are JoAnn Kelly Catsos' passion. The miniature baskets pictured here are woven of splint pieces 1/64-inch wide. As JoAnn describes, " We call the splints 'square hair' because it feels like working with a splint of hair."
JoAnn Kelly Catsos first learned to weave baskets with reed, but she soon discovered black-ash splint basketry. She recalls the experience as transformative: "It was like magic. There was something really special about that material." JoAnn and her husband Steve harvest black-ash trees near their home in the southern Berkshire mountains to make splints, molds, handles, and rims. Their neighbors gracisouly allow them to harvest trees from their property, and JoAnn practices the traditional "basket for a tree" exchange. JoAnn's skillful blend of symmetrical shapes, intricate designs, and fine weaving structure has earned her numerous awards. Basket weaving guilds across the country seek her as a teacher.
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