Carol Emarthle Douglas
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TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Northern Arapaho - Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
MEDIUM: Basketry - Other, Painting/Illustration
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a Traditional/Contemporary basket weaver, multimedia artist. I create baskets that tell a story by design, shape and use of color. Coiled basket weaving is an extremely time consuming process and the baskets produced in a years time are one of a kind. My inspiration is from my Northern Arapaho and Seminole heritage. Some of my designs from Plains style beadwork, ledger art, parfleche designs of my mother’s tribe, my father, of the Seminole Nation inspires the color, patterns of Seminole patchwork in my weaving and painting. Seminole designs represent the eight tribal clans and designs in nature.
My choice of employing contemporary processed materials is due to not having access to my traditional raw materials,I use hemp core, waxed linen thread for larger baskets, round reed, raffia; a palm fiber, silk thread, and beads to create miniature baskets. I will use natural plant fibers when available. The technique of coiling baskets is one of the oldest methods in basketry and were passed down by both tribes. As a basket weaver I continue learning new ways of mixing materials and incorporating new techniques. My baskets range in size from large pieces which can be up to 14” in diameter and miniatures 1” in diameter with intricately detailed designs. My paintings are inspired by previous sketches of my own basket designs which I deconstruct and then transfer to paper.
As a weaver, the opportunity to travel and share my weaving techniques through teaching and presentations of my work have been one way I can carry on the tradition of keeping the art of basket weaving alive for all generations.
Along with weaving my painting is another way to express my creativity to gain a wider audience in another medium. Most of my paintings to date are inspired by baskets I created over my career. Painting allows me to work with more color, detail of design and is a way to bring my previous basket sketches to life. I plan to continue painting to allow my basket weaving pieces come to life in a new form.
