An exhibit of contemporary basketry by artist Shakeeka Watts Brooks opens Friday, April 24
An exhibit of contemporary basketry by artist Shakeeka Watts Brooks opens Friday, April 24, at the Gaston County Museum of Art & History, 131 W. Main St., in Dallas, NC.
The public is invited to an opening reception with the artist on Saturday, April 25 from 1-3pm at the Museum. The event is free and open to the public.
“We are delighted to present this vibrant exhibit, “Woven with Purpose: Innovating Basketry for Generations to Come” said Alexandrea Pizza, the Museum’s Director. “Traditional pine needle basketry has a deep history in the American South but Ms. Brooks has transformed what was for many years a utilitarian craft into a creative expression of movement, form and function.”
“Pine needle basketry has a rich and enduring history, especially within African American communities,” Ms. Brooks says. “The craft is deeply connected to the traditions enslaved Africans carried with them to America, particularly the art of coiled basket weaving. Drawing on techniques rooted in West Africa, they adapted their knowledge to new environments, using materials such as long leaf pine needles to create sturdy, functional baskets.
“I use natural materials such as long leaf pine needles, raffia, cotton rope, waxed linen thread, sinew, ceramic, seashells, nuts, wooden beads, wood slices and pinecones in my basketry,” Ms. Brooks says. “I use weaving methods that are traditional to my roots but are nontraditional in design. My goal is to turn this art form, known to many as a craft, into a fine art, by incorporating sculptural techniques into my designs. I want to portray how basketry has evolved from domestic and utilitarian purposes such as gathering crops, winnowing rice, storing grain, and carrying vegetables and water into a beautiful, sculptural art form that can be displayed in galleries and museums.
“To know one’s cultural heritage is very important to me” she says. “We must preserve our traditions, beliefs, and way of life for our future generations to practice them. I believe that not knowing and preserving our cultural heritage will result in the suffering of cultural degradation. I hope the work that I create will not only inspire the younger generation to learn about and appreciate their ancestors’ art form and struggle, but to inspire them to learn the craft of pine needle basket weaving and carry on their traditions and legacy,” she says.
The exhibit will be on display in the first-floor gallery of the Museum through August 22, 2026.
The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 10am until 5pm and Saturday from 11am until 4pm. Admission is free.
