profile
Joan West is a London-based basket maker and textile artist. She uses natural materials such as sedge, meadow grasses and the leaves of monbretia ,cordyline, iris and day lilies. These are combined with jute, silk, linen and cotton threads to create 3-D sculptural basketry.The techniques used are basketry based but stitch is sometimes applied to the surfaces.Experiments with coiling, random weave, twining and netting create new forms. Often moulds are needed as a basis for the sculpture. These are cast in papier maché from foraged branches and stones. New and exciting shapes can be collaged from these moulds.
Joan finds inspiration from the natural environment and her work is a celebration of it’s fertility and sorrow at its depletion. Anything from the weathering of rock strata, seeds, special trees and wells provide an endless source of colour, pattern, texture and meaning.
qualifications
City and Guilds part 1&2 in Embroidery and design (London College of Fashion)
Art foundation, City Lit 1991-1992
City and Guilds part 1&2 in Basketry (City Lit) 2003-2007
membership
Basketmakers assoc
Hertford basketmakers
Oxfordbasketmakers
exhibitions
2007 … International Exhibition of Basketry, Teneriffe, Canary islands
2008 … 4×4 Menier Gallery
2009 … Full Circle, Herts basketry, Welwyn Garden City
2009 … The Upsett, Barbican library foyer, London
2011 … On the Wall, Lauderdale House
2013 … 13 Amulets, Petrie Museum, London and Luton museum
2013 … From Bare Stems, Dartington, Devon
2015 … Soundweaves, Didcot case Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford
2018 … All at Sea, Illminster
2018 … Material Difference, Courtyard arts gallery, Hertford
2019 … Stitched Art, Clerkenwell gallery London
2019 … Second Prize in basketry of the year awarded by Worshipful Co of Basketmakers
2022 … Weaving yarns, Courtyard arts gallery, Hertford
2023 … The gallery Whitehead, N.Ireland
2023 … Changing Environment at Constance Howard gallery, Goldsmith’s College, London
publications
Baskets featured in Practical basketry Techniques by Stella Harding and Shane Waltener
Publ by A&Cblack, London
Also in Feb 2010 House and Garden magazine
Embroidery in World of Embroidery by Jan Messent
Article about Straw Boys publ in Basketmakers Assoc magazine
contact
Instagram: @westwovenbaskets
Email: joanwest@gmail.com