Conley Publishing - Special Sections
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10 • EXPLORING THE ARTS • Daily News & News Graphic • April 2019 By Colleen Jurkiewicz Special to Conley Media CEDARBURG — Several years ago, Paula DeStefanis encouraged her friend Laura Weber to take out a studio space at the NSAA Arts Mill in Grafton so that she could further develop her basket weaving craft. "At the time, I said, I'm not an artist — why would I want a studio?" recalled Weber. "But she saw the beauty in my work even before I really understood what it meant." And today, what was for years a private passion of Weber's has become very public art. Her sculptural, abstract basketry work is shown at the Cedarburg Cultural Center and the Pink Llama Gallery and has been featured at the Cedarburg Art Museum, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts and the Dubuque Museum of Art. Weber originally learned the craft the way weavers have passed down their art for centuries — in communi- ty, around the kitchen table. She grew up in Chicago, sur- rounded by a heavily Latvian community that prized traditional arts, but it wasn't until she was a young mother in the early 1990s, at the height of the country- craft trend, that Weber joined with several friends to take lessons in basket weaving from local artist Barbara Lythjohan. "She taught us how to do the basics of weaving a bas- ket and understanding a written pattern. After a cou- ple of sessions with her, the four of us just decided to meet once a month; we pur- chased materials and found some patterns that guided us into creating some basic, functional baskets," said Weber. Of that original group, it was Weber alone who con- tinued to pursue the hobby until it became an art form. The style of her baskets is a reflection of her dualistic nature — the interaction between "left brain and right brain" informs not only her personality, she says, but her artistic work. A former figure skater and nurse, she creates a type of basketry that is functional as well as beautiful and likes to blend form with purpose. Her designs often incorpo- rate found, recycled or upcy- cled material. In June, the Pink Llama will be hosting "Voyages," a collaborative exhibit featur- ing the work of Weber and Cedarburg oil painter Deb Mortl. In the exhibit, Weber will showcase sculptural pieces in abstract forms that evoke the concepts of boats and water. "I'm using branches and sticks— red dogwood for example — and I'm incorporating copper strips that I've patina'd and wire and just a whole vari- ety of found objects and found materials into creat- ing these really fun shapes." She said she still can't quite believe where this hobby-turned-career has taken her. "It's just such a blessed life that I've had. There's so much support here from the arts communi- ty here in Cedarburg and the fiber arts community as a whole. They love the work and accept where I've taken it. The basketry makers as a community are very giving and even the people who are nationally and internation- ally recognized are very willing to share and pass on the craft." "Voyages" will open Saturday, June 1 and run through July 28. For more information on Weber, visit weberarts.com. Photos by Art Dahlke Laura Weber is pictured in her workshop holding one of her favorite baskets. Art learned around a kitchen table Baskets are an intersection between 'left brain and right brain' Photos by Art Dahlke These boats are made with objects the Weber has found or been given, including stones, beach glass and twigs. They will be part of "Vogages" a dual exhibi- tion with Deb Mortl beginning June 1 at Pink Llama Gallery in Cedarburg.