PBS News Story on Ramey Mize's (PhD'23) Exhibition of Artist Jeremy Frey

PBS News Story on Ramey Mize's (PhD'23) Exhibition of Artist Jeremy Frey

PBS News Hour | September 4, 2024 | Artist takes ancient tradition of basket weaving in new directions

The ancient Native tradition of weaving baskets is now grabbing the attention of the contemporary art world. Jeffrey Brown visited one artist who is taking the form in new directions. It's for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Excerpt:

Jeffrey Brown:

He learned first from elders, including members of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, a group intent on preserving and furthering the craft.

He began taking his work to craft markets and fairs, gaining attention and winning prizes, including, in 2011, best in show at the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market. And then the art world, eager to expand its boundaries of contemporary art, began to take notice.

The Portland Museum of Art's Ramey Mize is co-curator of this show.

Ramey Mize, Portland Museum of Art: Baskets of this kind were seen within the dichotomy and a sort of perceived hierarchy of art and craft, art versus craft.

And so much of what Jeremy Frey is doing is attuning people to the extraordinary vision and genius behind these works that absolutely deserves to be considered within a — quote, unquote — "fine art" context, but not abandoning the incredible craft, roots and processes that bring it to life.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/artist-takes-ancient-tradition-of-basket-weaving-in-new-directions