Bayou Baskets: A community workshop celebrating Houston’s urban landscape

Basketry has deep roots in place. While techniques across cultures were based in loops, weaves, and wraps, the plant fibers were specific to each place and largely foraged. Now in the 21st century, the basket making scene looks a little bit different. While foraging for materials is still prevalent, much of the forageable land has been urbanized and many basketmakers purchase pre-processed materials.

Led by artist Molly Koehn, Bayou Baskets is a hands-on workshop where participants will learn about Houston's urban landscape and ultimately create your own basket using local plant fibers.
The workshop will begin with a brief nature walk along the bayou to identify and learn about regional plants suitable for cordage and basketry. During the walk, participants will also learn about urban foraging practices and cultivation possibilities for basket materials. For the remainder of the workshop, participants will then work hands-on with a variety of Houston plants, learning how to prepare plant fibers for weaving, make cordage, and weave a basket—all using toolless techniques that originated during the neolithic era.

This event is free and open to the public, with no basketry or weaving experience necessary. All are welcome, though registration is required. Free parking and on-site restrooms are available at Mason Park.

This workshop will be held entirely outdoors, so please wear/bring appropriate clothing. This includes suitable walking shoes, as we will be walking up to 1-mile through wetland areas and along the bayou. In the case of inclement weather, participants will be notified of a venue change via email. Also, your hands will be wet for the majority of the workshop, as this is part of the basket-making process.

Students are encouraged—but not required—to bring the following:

• Snack/Lunch
• Blanket (to sit on while working)
• Scissors
• Spray bottle (ideally with mist setting)
• Towel(s)
• Sketchbook / notebook
• Pencil / pen
• Appropriate outdoor clothing (incl. walking shoes)

This workshop is organized as part of , an exhibition by artists Margaux Crump and Jake Eshelman that wonders what's possible when we collectively reimagine Houston's bayou system as a sacred, fertile community space that nurtures the biodiversity, vitality, and unfolding story of our city. As a satellite program of this exhibition, Bayou Baskets is funded in part by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

Molly Koehn is an artist and maker located in Houston, TX. Melding a practice of repetitive actions through weaving, printing, and stitching, Molly’s work conjures glimpses into alternate and constructed realities. Her work is rooted in place and finds grounding through explorations of her present environments and research into their ecological pasts, presents, and futures. Her current research is largely focused in the Houston region and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft’s garden, learning about and making with local and cultivated plants.

Molly received an MFA with an emphasis in fibers from Arizona State University (2017) and BFA in drawing from Fort Hays State University (2013). Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is in several collections including the Houston Endowment’s permanent collection. In addition to keeping a studio practice, Molly also teaches workshops and classes regularly.

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Host or Publisher Jake Eshelman