Nancy Moore Bess
biography |
portfolio | artists listing
b.1943, Arbuckle, California
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
American Craft Museum, New York, NY
Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR
Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA
Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
Szombathely Art Museum, Hungary
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2006 Contemporary Baskets, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Magnificent Extravagance: Arts and Opulence, Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Asian Influence, Andora gallery, Andora, AZ
Scents of Purpose: Artists Interpret the Spice Box, Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA
2004 No Boundaries: Contemporary Basketry, The Society for Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA, touring
Contemporary Baskets, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Fiber Biennial, Snyderman-Works, Philadelphia, PA
2003 Words-Texts-Stories, The Society for Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA,
Raking Stones, Fontbonne University Gallery of Art, St. Louis, MO
The Art of Containment, Hunterdon Museum of Art, Clinton, NJ
Basketry Now, National Basketry Organization, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
2002 Natural Elements: Sculptural Expressions, Zoeler Art Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
2001 25 Years of Fine Craftsmanship, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, CT
Woven Constructions, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
2000-01 Contemporary Baskets, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2000 The Nature of Fiber, Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, Cazenovia, NY
The 7th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition, University of Hawaii Art Gallery, Honolulu, HI
Inventions & Constructions: New Baskets, Florida Craftsmen Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2002 Fiber Arts, Hisako Sekijima: Explorer of Fiber Boundaries
2001 Bamboo in Japan, Kodansha international, Tokyo,
2000 Baskets: Tradition & Beyond, Leier, Peters and Wallace,
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I realize that I have been a basket maker more years than I have not. When did it become such an important part of my life?
When I lived in Berkeley in the late 60's, I decided I wanted have a gallery and sell fine crafts. A similar job in college revealed a flare for selling, especially when I understood some of the details that separated fine work from everyday. Classes in ceramics surface design, weaving, and woodworking finally led to a class in basketry on 8th Avenue in New York City, of all places. I stopped all other work and the goal of having a gallery. All I wanted to do was make non-functional vessels.
The next turn of events occurred in 1986. The family had an opportunity to live and work in Japan for eleven months. I thought I would learn more about Japanese basket makers, thus making me a better teacher. I also hoped to reinforce my love traditional Japanese packaging. Little did I know that just as basketry had seduced me in the early 70's, bamboo would likewise in the late 80's.
Moving into my 33rd year of basketry, I am still inspired by the sights and forms of Japan; I still listen to Japanese music as I weave; I write about bamboo in Japan and think of it daily. I don't regret a bit of it!
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
American Craft Museum, New York, NY
Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR
Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA
Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
Szombathely Art Museum, Hungary
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2006 Contemporary Baskets, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Magnificent Extravagance: Arts and Opulence, Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Asian Influence, Andora gallery, Andora, AZ
Scents of Purpose: Artists Interpret the Spice Box, Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA
2004 No Boundaries: Contemporary Basketry, The Society for Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA, touring
Contemporary Baskets, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Fiber Biennial, Snyderman-Works, Philadelphia, PA
2003 Words-Texts-Stories, The Society for Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA,
Raking Stones, Fontbonne University Gallery of Art, St. Louis, MO
The Art of Containment, Hunterdon Museum of Art, Clinton, NJ
Basketry Now, National Basketry Organization, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
2002 Natural Elements: Sculptural Expressions, Zoeler Art Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
2001 25 Years of Fine Craftsmanship, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, CT
Woven Constructions, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
2000-01 Contemporary Baskets, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2000 The Nature of Fiber, Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, Cazenovia, NY
The 7th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition, University of Hawaii Art Gallery, Honolulu, HI
Inventions & Constructions: New Baskets, Florida Craftsmen Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2002 Fiber Arts, Hisako Sekijima: Explorer of Fiber Boundaries
2001 Bamboo in Japan, Kodansha international, Tokyo,
2000 Baskets: Tradition & Beyond, Leier, Peters and Wallace,
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I realize that I have been a basket maker more years than I have not. When did it become such an important part of my life?
When I lived in Berkeley in the late 60's, I decided I wanted have a gallery and sell fine crafts. A similar job in college revealed a flare for selling, especially when I understood some of the details that separated fine work from everyday. Classes in ceramics surface design, weaving, and woodworking finally led to a class in basketry on 8th Avenue in New York City, of all places. I stopped all other work and the goal of having a gallery. All I wanted to do was make non-functional vessels.
The next turn of events occurred in 1986. The family had an opportunity to live and work in Japan for eleven months. I thought I would learn more about Japanese basket makers, thus making me a better teacher. I also hoped to reinforce my love traditional Japanese packaging. Little did I know that just as basketry had seduced me in the early 70's, bamboo would likewise in the late 80's.
Moving into my 33rd year of basketry, I am still inspired by the sights and forms of Japan; I still listen to Japanese music as I weave; I write about bamboo in Japan and think of it daily. I don't regret a bit of it!