Traditional Arts in Upstate New York. Traditional Arts of Upstate New York
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Akwesasne Basket Makers

Akwesasne
Mohawk Ash Splint & Sweetgrass Basket Makers


In a recent survey, 105 Mohawks, mostly women, identified themselves as active makers of fine ash splint and sweetgrass baskets. Prized through the generations as much for their fragrance as for usefulness and fine quality, most of their baskets have been  conventional in form and decoration, made primarily to satisfy the demands of the souvenir trade.  A few of the women at Akwesasne are recognized within the community as "the best," and have been instrumental in teaching the art to dozens of the younger generations. In recent years— proclaimed as "artists" by writers and galleries elsewhere—these women have been experimenting with innovative designs and new techniques. A number of the basket makers now regularly travel—to colleges, museums, or international powwows—to demonstrate and show their work. Today, examples of their work are owned by major museums, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Vatican.

Click here to listen to the TAUNY/NCPR "Meet the Masters" story about these Akwesasne basket makers.

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