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| Accession # | 2011.5 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Carol Emarthle-Douglas |
| Title | Gathering of Nations |
| Date | 2010 |
| Medium | Waxed linen thread, single-rod hemp core, red and yellow cedar, reed, raffia, sweetgrass, pine needles, silk thread, cherry bark, artificial sinew |
| Dimensions | 7 x 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. (17.8 x 29.2 x 29.2 cm) |
| Credit Line | Museum Collection Fund |
| Location | American Identities: Colony to Nation / Inventing American Landscape |
| Description | This traditional, coiled basket is created especially for the Museum for the tipi exhibition by the artist Carol Emarthle-Douglas. On a natural background, it depicts eleven different women, each wearing the traditional dress of her Tribe, or Nation. In her hands she extends out a three dimensional basket woven in the style of her people as if to present it to the entire world. This is reflected exactly the same on the inside where she extends her basket as if to her community of basket makers. Four different basket making techniques are represented and materials are as follows by Nation: Seminole-One-rod coiling- one coiled pine needle, wrapped with raffia Haida- Twining- Red and Yellow cedar bark, commercial dye Pomo-One rod coiling-Round reed wrapped with raffia, various colors Navajo- One rod coiling- Round reed wrapped with raffia, various colors Yakima-One rod coiling- Round reed wrapped with raffia, various colors Nez Perce-Twining-Waxed linen thread in brown, green and white Northern Arapaho-One rod coiling, Coiled cloth wrapped with wire core, wrapped silk thread Ojibwa-Bending bark, Cherry bark, artificial sinew, etched design Penobscot- Twining- Black ash, sweet grass Chitimacha-Twill- Black ash, yellow cedar Cherokee- Twill-Yellow cedar, dyed yellow cedar |
Curatorial Remarks: This coiled basket is anything but traditionally executed. It was created especially for the Museum by the artist. Around the exterior it depicts eleven different women, each wearing the traditional dress of her tribe or nation. Each woman holds a three-dimensional basket woven in the style of her people and, facing outward, presents it to the world. The circle of women is repeated on the interior, where they compose a community of basket makers and present their baskets to each other.
