Founded in 1984, the Bay Area Basket Makers (BABM) guild carries forward a living tradition of basketry rooted in craft, community, and experimentation. For over four decades, BABM has welcomed makers of all ages and experience, from 18 to 108, into a circle of friendship, skill-sharing, and creative exchange. At its heart, the guild affirms that making is an act of resilience and connection—holding tradition while reaching toward new forms.

This exhibition celebrates the creativity of contemporary basketry, showcasing bold reinterpretations of traditional techniques. Kelp, pine needles, recycled plastic, and wire mesh appear alongside inventive weaves, transforming a form once defined by function into works of art. Together, these pieces reveal both continuity and reinvention—pushing the basket into new realms of meaning and possibility.

About Bay Area Basket Makers

The Bay Area Basket Makers (BABM) guild was founded in 1984 by Maxine Kirmeyer and Jude Silva to uplift basketry as a craft and art form. With more than 75 members across the Bay Area and beyond, BABM connects basket makers of all backgrounds through inspiration, information, and enduring community.

Exhibiting Artists
Barbara M. Berk
Toni Best
Bob Darchi
Emily Dvorin
Michele Hament
Rachel Leibman
Youngmi Angela Pak
Barbara Shapiro
Caroline Selfridge
Jill Stanton
Linda Tapscott
Peeta Tinay
Jan Wittman

Access

QR codes can be scanned on wall labels to access audio descriptions for each artwork. There is a tactile marker approximately one inch to the right of the QR codes. Complete exhibition information is also available in large print.

Artwork Credit: Jill Stanton, Song, 2024. Pacific kelp & driftwood. 9.5" x 5" x 3.5"