Updates on Wabanaki Basket Makers

We are very excited about the state of Wabanaki basket weaving. In this post, we highlight a few weavers who we feel represent the future of this important cultural field of endeavor. 

Caleb Hoffman has, as of this writing, just won his second Best of Classification award at the Santa Fe Indian Market, arguably the most important annual event for Native American art. Caleb first learned how to weave from Theresa Secord, founding director of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, and Caleb's mother. Under the apprenticeship of Jeremy Frey, Hoffman has blossomed into an innovative creator of the highest degree.

This basket by Caleb Hoffman consists of two miniatures woven into an ingenious double basket. It is an innovative and exquisitely woven little treasure.

Lydia Soctomah is one of Molly Neptune Parker's grandchildren. As such, she continues Molly's legacy of flowers incorporated into basket lids. Lydia uses color very effectively, sometimes in dusty, pastel tones, sometimes in bolder, deeper hues. The combination of traditional design and creative colors are an encouraging sign of a long career for this Passamaquoddy weaver.

Two baskets by Lydia Soctomah represent the traditional and the innovative side of her creativity.

Erica Menard came to the world Wabanaki basket-making later in life than the above two weavers. Mentored by her cousin, Theresa Secord, she has a distinctive style and consistently weaves aesthetically pleasing designs. Baskets of Time is honored to include her work in our gallery.

Shane Dutcher-Perley is a Maliseet artist from Canada. He is a multi-media artist, with weaving being only one of his talents. Like Caleb Hoffman, Shane also recently won an award at Santa Fe Indian Market. One of his distinctions is weaving metal baskets. The basket below is a traditional acorn shape woven from silver and copper, which sets his work apart from all other Wabanaki weavers we know. 

Frances Soctomah is another Passamaquoddy weaver from the Molly Neptune Parker family. Currently completing her MFA, she clearly has other talents besides basket weaving. Her baskets are beautifully woven and very aesthetically pleasing. Whatever form of art she chooses to pursue, we hope she continues providing the world with her excellent baskets.

While we are excited about the weavers in this post, we would be remiss if we didn't mention some of the more established weavers who continue to do great work. Theresa Secord, in addition to her influential role in Wabanaki basket making for a generation, and in addition to being mother to Caleb Hoffman, continues to weave terrific baskets. Sarah Sockbeson, Gabriel Frey, Geo Neptune, Eric Otter Bacon, Pam Cunningham, Kenny Keezer, Debbie Nicolas, Aron Griffith, Dolly Barnes, Amanda Ennis, Gal Frey, and others continue the important work carried on through the generations.

No post about the state of Wabanaki basket weaving would be complete without mentioning Jeremy Frey. Frey has brought contemporary basket weaving to the world stage, and continues to innovate and create exquisite baskets. We're confident his creativity will continue to flourish and provide the world with work of the highest quality.

Thank you for reading our post.