The Marine Science Consortium

Oval Marsh Grass Basket with Oyster Shell Center

  Participants will use locally gathered marsh grass, mainly spartina or cordgrass, and other materials to create a coiled basket. The technique used is similar to that used to construct pine needle baskets which is a Native American basketry form. Students will receive a pre-made basket start which is an oyster shell surrounded by several rows of long leaf pine needles. Synthetic sinew and a #1 darning needle will be used to sew coils of spartina grass forming the oval basket.
  The completed basket will be about 8”diam. x 6”diam. X 2” depth oval. Sizes are approximate and may vary according to the desires of the participant and the irregular shape of oyster shells.

Cost: $265/person (includes meals, lodging, instruction, transportation during program and materials)

Commuter Cost: $225.00/ person(includes meals, instruction, transportation during program and materials)

Teachers Biography

Jean Poythress Koon has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Tennessee. She is a certified teacher
in the State of Virginia who taught Culinary Arts Education and Family and Consumer Science Education for many years.

Jean studied basket weaving under Nina Busby, of the Bay School of the Arts, in Matthews VA, Barbara McCormick of McCellansville, SC and Joni Dee Ross, Summerfield, NC.

She is a member of the Tidewater Virginia Basketry Guild, the National Basketry Organization, and the Rappahannock Art League, Kilmarnock, Virginia.

From the Artist

"The inspiration for my art comes from how I feel about the marsh. The marsh provides protection for the land and our homes from mighty storms. It provides a habitat for billions of creatures and it sustains my soul with its ever changing beauty.

The grasses that go into my baskets are harvested locally in a sustainable manner and I try to create designs that reflect the majestic beauty of the Northern Neck marshes. Sadly, our marshes are disappearing as we build more and more upon this land... I am trying to preserve a bit of it in my baskets

Each basket I weave is a new adventure. I become totally immersed in the process. Through my baskets and basket classes, I want to inspire others to protect and cherish the fragile ecosystems of our wetlands and to share the gifts of this beautiful Mid Atlantic coastal region that is my home”.

Equipment

Participants need to bring:
Small pair of needle nose pliers
Scissors for cutting thread
Garden shears for cutting grasses
Clothes appropiate for beach walk
Boots for marsh walk

Materials Provided
All Materials needed to complete one basket will be provided to each participant.
1.Cured Spartina grass
2.Long leaf pine needles
3.Synthetic sinew
4.Oyster shell surrounded by several rows of long leaf pine needles
5.Four #1 darner needles
6.Brass compression sleeve to be used as a gauge for weaving uniform coils.
7.Written Instructions for the basket.

Class Schedule

Friday
3:30-5:00 Check in with Special Programs Coordinator at MSC
5:15-6:15 Dinner
6:15-9:00 Introduction to Basket Coiling Techniques

Saturday
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-12:00 Work on Baskets
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:30 Marsh Trip and Instruction on Sustainable Gathering Techniques
3:00-5:00 Work on Baskets
5:30-6:30 Dinner on Chicoteague
6:30-8:00 Continue to work on Baskets

Sunday
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-11:45 Basket Completion and Wrap-up