Celebrate Basketry and the Work of Ankaret Dean in March Exhibition:
Wastepaper Baskets, and Winged Flying Creatures.
Meet the Artist at MERA – Re-scheduled to Saturday March 18th
Plus – Basketry Workshops March 11 and March 25
For the entire month of March, the work of basketmaker Ankaret Dean will be on display at the MERA Schoolhouse. Ankaret’s work will be celebrated at a special “meet the artist” event on Saturday March 18th.
Ankaret Dean has been enjoying basketry since the 1970s. After graduating from the School of Design, Sheridan College in 1975, she travelled extensively, teaching and exhibiting her work. Since moving to a farm in McDonalds Corners in 1991, she has been actively involved in the MERA School House, and in 2018 she opened the Lanark Highland Basketry Museum.
This basketry exhibition demonstrates the use of basketry as both practical and useful household objects, as well as a sculptural art form. The dozen or so colourful waste paper baskets show many different techniques and materials used in basketry, including recycled newspaper and cardboard. The winged flying creatures hanging on the walls, give the impression that they would like to fly away out of the windows. If visitors would like to try their hand at basketry there will be two workshops offered during the exhibition, and a few basketry kits, offering the chance to try some basic basketry skills. For more information on workshops offered, See below.
You are invited to join Ankaret at the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners (974 Dalhousie Concession 9A) on Saturday March 18th from 2 to 4PM to meet the artist, view their works and purchase that “must have” piece. To arrange to see the exhibition at times other than the Meet the Artist event, please contact Wayne Stryde gwstryde@outlook.com.
CLICK HERE to tour Ankaret’s Basketry Exhibition
Basketry 101
Saturday March 11th
10:00am to 3:00pm
This workshop is intended for beginners or people who have never woven before. Adults and teens over the age of twelve will enjoy making a waste paper basket with a wooden base and woven with natural and coloured round reed. All weaving materials will be supplied.
At the end of the workshop, you will have a hand made wastepaper basket which will last for years and years. Please bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided.
Please bring:
Spring type clothes pegs
Knitting needle
Pair of Garden snippets
Tape measure
Water sprayer
Pail
Small towel
MERA members: $65
Non-members: $75
Please add an additional $15 for supplies.
To register, please contact MERA admin meraschoolhouse@gmail.com.
Basketry 201
Saturday March 25th
10:00am to 3:00pm
This workshop is intended for people with a bit of experience in weaving. Those who have taken Basketry 101 may enjoy learning new skills in Basketry 201. Adults and teens over the age of twelve an introduction to colour and design while weaving a waste paper basket with a wooden base and natural and coloured round read. All weaving materials will be supplied. The workshop will also include a discussion on the techniques used in the baskets on exhibition. Please bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided.
Please bring:
Spring type clothes pegs
Knitting needle
Pair of Garden snippets
Tape measure
Water sprayer
Pail
Small towel
Notebook or Sketchbook
MERA members: $65
Non-members: $75
Please add an additional $15 for supplies.
To register, please contact MERA admin meraschoolhouse@gmail.com.
