Coming Soon to the Visitor Hall
Baskets and woven items reflect millennia-old conversations between people and their environment.
Weavers must carefully consider the natural materials available to them for producing an item—plant materials for a basket structure, animals and shells for decoration, even the soil and minerals for painting or surface treatment. Additionally, weavers and basket makers draw inspiration from the sea, earth, and sky for their intricate designs.
Through the creation and use of these items, people and nature become even further connected. These baskets, for example, are integral to daily life and are used for everything from harvesting to cooking to gifting for celebrations. They also act as a physical way of passing down cultural lifeways, traditions, and history. The objects featured in this exhibit are examples of weaving practices from various cultural groups, predominantly from North America, South America, and Africa. They hold a special place in our collection as they were donated by Clevelanders who lived and worked with skilled craftspeople and wanted to preserve their work. Most importantly, the donors recognized that these works of art are a direct reflection of the beauty of nature and that we have a responsibility to conserve both.
This exhibit is located in the Museum's Visitor Hall, which is always free to the public. To access the whole Museum, purchase a general admission ticket.
