Exhibition of Longleaf Pine Needle Basketry To Open at BPL on June 12
Kathy Nelson, Large Longleaf Pine Needle Vase with Blue Waxed Thread Starting on Friday, June 12, the skill and innovation of artist Kathy Nelson will be on display at the Birmingham Public Library. Among the Pines is an exhibition of baskets that Nelson created from longleaf pine needles. It is the latest exhibition in the Sculpture Gallery at the Central Library. Nelson has been a basket-maker since 2012. Nelson says that “growing up among the pines instilled in me my love of pines, the fragrance and colors.” Nelson collects needles from longleaf pine trees growing on her property in Shelby County. She then sorts, dries, soaks, and finally coils the needles into baskets, using artificial sinew to hold the needles together. Kathy Nelson, Gourd Container with Longleaf Pine Needle Rim and Closure Kathy Nelson, Longleaf Pine Needle Bowl with Waxed Thread Pine needle basketry is one of the oldest crafts known, pre-dating even the creation of pottery. It is a tedious, tim...