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, time-consuming process, sometimes requiring up to 15 hours to make a single basket. Despite this, Nelson says that coiling a basket is a relaxing activity. 

“Although I am relatively new to pine needle basketry I find it very rewarding to see my finished basket. I appreciate the fact that I am making a useful basket from pine needles that would soon decompose if left on the ground.”

The official state tree of Alabama, the longleaf pine (pinus palustris) is the longest-lived of all Southeastern pine species. It and the many wildlife species that rely on it for survival are endangered. Read more about the longleaf pine on the National Wildlife Federation’s website. 

Kathy Nelson collecting needles from longleaf pine trees

Nelson has been a juried artist with the Alabama Craft Guild since 2015. She has featured her baskets at markets throughout Alabama and was the featured artist at Visual Index in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has even provided baskets for the cabins at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores.

Among the Pines be on view through August 29. It is made possible in part by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Written by Margaret Splane, Library Assistant III - Art for Everyone, Community Engagement, Fundraising