Using everyday common materials in a non-traditional way, fiber artist Emily Dvorin creates wonderfully fun and quirky baskets. To see more of her work, please visit her website.
I call myself a “sculptural basket maker”. I am a contemporary basket maker, creating one-of-a-kind, non-functional, non-traditional sculptures. I have been a fiber artist for more than 35 years. I started out doing macrame.
I am known for my innovative, transordinary vessels made with everyday, common materials using traditional basketry techniques in a non-traditional way.
I am a conceptual artist; with a visual language, I tell a story by sculpting, weaving, assembling, sewing, and coiling, constructing, altering and interacting with material, repeating singular elements, manipulating pattern, color, design and texture.
My use of re-purposed, re-contextualized materials is commentary on overconsumption of commercial goods, societal excess and throwaway consumerism. My work references everyday life and our relationship with our urban environment.
I am challenging the original definition of basketry. I transform the ordinary into whimsical vessels, creating dense arrangements of familiar urban objects.
I am inspired by materials. I find them everywhere and anywhere. I am noted for my use of “odd-ball” ingredients such as cable ties, plastic tubing, straws, shoulder pads, ballet slippers, wire, hardware cloth, zippers, hair curlers, bobby pins, mountain-climbing rope, chopsticks, newspaper bags, and ordinary household items. All is recognizable in my work.
I grew up in the 50s on the East Coast. I taught third grade in the 60s, got married, had children and moved west to Marin County, CA in the 70s. After owning and operating a contemporary crafts store in Marin for 35 years, I retired to live my lifelong dream of being a full-time artist.
I now have a studio in Sausalito and I teach, speak, consult and exhibit all around the country.
My goal is to keep going! I am driven to create and teach and share my love of this art form. I am determined to make an exuberant, visual statement in today’s world and continue to pursue the love of my life!
Emily invites you to follow her on Facebook.
What unique art you create! I can see the twinkle in your eye in these wonderful baskets.