After completing my BFA at Adrian College in 1976, and then working as a studio potter for fifteen years, I am finally able to create the mixed-media baskets I have always dreamed about. Unhampered by the limitations found with clay-only forms, texture, color, shape and size have become a satisfying reality. My baskets are made with a combination of three materials: clay, fiber (reed), and wood.

The clay is a high fired stoneware with dipped, brushed, and poured glazes. The challenge here is to have a clear vision of the completed basket before starting the piece. Using traditional wheel-throwing and hand building techniques, I finish the clay parts first. Once I have completed that I begin to shape and bend the green

oak ribs for the larger baskets. On other pieces, I position and glue reed or dowel spokes in place. This stabilizes the form for weaving.

The final process is the weaving of the entire spoked area. I select the natural and dyed reed and weave plaited and twilled patterns. I will often choose palm, vine rattan, red osier, willow, or birch bark as accents to add a more natural feel and texture to my baskets.

Fascinated by exploring new and exciting shapes, I have been continually inspired to work with the vessel as form. Breaking from the clay-only vessel and exploring the endless possibilities afforded by basketry as an art form has allowed me to explore shapes and textures that were unattainable to me in the past.
  • Best Of Show 3-D, Brookside Art Annual, Kansas City, MO, 2007
  • First Place Award, Art In The Park, Petoskey, MI 2006
  • Merit Award, Winter Sidewalk Art Festival, Winter Park, FL, 2006
  • Award Of Excellence, Petoskey Art In The Park, Petoskey, MI, 2004
  • Merit Award, Winter Park Art Festival, Winter Park, FL, 2004
  • Lakefront Festival of Arts, Milwaukee, WI, 2001
  • Merit Award, Gasparilla Art Festival, Tampa, FL, 1999
  • Merit Award, Art & Apples Festival, Rochester, MI, 1999

 
 

 
 


Lark Books, Edited By Susan Mowery Kieffer 
500 Baskets
Lark Books, 2006
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Lark Books, Edited By: Susan Mowery Kieffer
Fiberarts Design Book 7. Lark Books, 2004


Leier, Peters & Wallace, Baskets: Tradition 
& Beyond. Guild Publishing, 2000
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Sudduth, Billie Ruth. Baskets A Book for Makers and Collectors. Madison: Hand Book Press, 1999
 
  • "Contact", Adrian College Bulletin, Winter, 2004
  • "Northern Style", NORTHERN HOME Magazine, Sept. 2003
  • "The Artist's Place," TRAVERSE, The Magazine, May, 2001
  • "New Works," FIBERARTS. Summer, 1999
  • "Regional Profile," The Crafts Report. July, 1999
  • "Artwatch," TRAVERSE, The Magazine, Nov., 1998

 
  • "Art and Design Entwined" April 6 -May 9, 2008. The Jordan River Art Center is located at 301 Main Street, East Jordan, Michigan.
  • "Creating Spaces With Art", Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan, MI, 2004
  • "Little Masters," Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan, MI, 2003
  • "North West Potters & Sculptors Guild Fall Exhibit," Parallel Arts Gallery, Northport, MI, 2003
  • "Contemporary Baskets 2002," del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, August 2002
    •
  • "New Baskets,"  Fiber Art Center, Amhesrt, MA, Sept. 25 - Nov. 23, 2002
  • "Contemporary Baskets 2001," del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, August 2001
  • "Invitational Art Exhibition," Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan, MI, June 2001
  • "Fiber Invitational 2000," Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, March 2000


 Copyright © 2001, Stephen Kostyshyn. All rights reserved.