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Show U T A H S T A T E OF T H E A R TS U T A H S T A T E OF T H E A R TS NATIVE AMERICAN BASKETMAKERS BASKET BY KEE BITSINNI / PHOTO UTAH ARTS COUNCIL ARCHIVES Goshute weaver Molley McCurdy still makes prehistoric-style gathering and winnowing baskets, while her neighbor Mollie Bonamont makes smaller, lidded baskets. They both weave willow frames and sunshades for baby cradleboards. South of Blanding, a number of Ute basketmakers still gather the squaw bush, split it with their teeth, and weave baskets with the black-and-red Navajo wedding design or with silhouettes of animals or human beings. And, recently, among Utah Navajos basketry is becoming an important art form as several families, including the Blacks, the Rocks and the Whites, participate in an unprecedented expansion of pictorial designs and styles that may signal the beginning of a new basketry tradition. The basketmaking community-and many others who respect the tradition-were gratified when Mary H. Black received a 1993 Governor's Award in the Arts. NAVAJO RUG WEAVING BY LOUISE CLY / PHOTO UTAH ARTS COUNCIL ARCHIVES 138 139 |