Inspired by Norwegian Reality TV, I Made a Basket Entitled "Midnight Sun"

Once I have a basket design in my head or at least have an idea, I usually listen to books on CD while I weave, but this time I was glued to my computer. I had no idea that I was about to join 2.5 million Norwegians who were watching their public TV (according to ABC News).

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My cousin Per sent me the link to "Hurtigruten: Minute to Minute," a 134 hour documentary of what is called "The Worlds Most Beautiful Sea Voyage.” People have been traveling up the Norwegian coastline since 1893 and I was about to join this voyage from my kitchen! I followed the map as the ship as it travelled from Bergen, up the coast between islands, to the way-northern port of Kirkenes.

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As I worked on the basket, I saw what the 22 cameras saw, documenting the trip. The country had been alerted to the NRK project and all along the way, people cheered and waved flags from land and boats. Because the cruise ran during the longest days of the year, filming was possible 24 hours a day. They say in Norway that on June 21st it is so light that you can read the newspaper outside at midnight. My work schedule was such that it was often quite late over there, hence the rosy glow in the photos I caught off the computer:

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The ship passed Ålesund, a town known for it's dried and salted cod, “klippfisk.” (Here they're drying in the sun.)

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There were serene views of wave-washed rock and hazy, snow studded mountains.

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I watched and wove, on and off for 4 days, often just listening to the waves and sea.

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After a while I realized that the basket had taken on characteristics of the boat (notice the shape of the hull), the water colors, and the warm glow from the midnight sun on the landscape.

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The basket measures 14.75" x 13" and will be on exhibit at the Shaw Cramer Gallery this July.

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**With the exception of the basket shots, all the photos that appear above, were taken off the computer as screen shots courtesy of NRK's TV broadcast.

Fireworks over Bergen ~ Happy New Year to All

2009 was a year filled with challenges and a lot of intense learning. I look forward to a bright and creative 2010 filled with magic and mystery for all of us. (The water, color, graphics and smoke in this photo, appealed to me. It was shot by a webcam in Bergen, Norway a few minutes after midnight.)

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I've been thinking about what is important to me, what I want to pursue, and what I want to change. (This blog has been good practice since writing isn't easy for me. I'd rather weave or build something.) I want to do it all. I want to spend more time weaving, playing with color, photographing nature and exploring the riches of social media. For the last few months I've been wrapped up in trying to learn as much as I can, as fast as I can about the internet, but the more I learn, the more there is to know. Since I haven't discovered a way to clone myself, I need to find a balance.

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I've been working on ideas for the Fuller Craft Museum's commission. Now that my broken finger is nearly functional, though a bit crooked, I'm looking forward to starting in on that! I've missed being able to weave. The basket will be a double-walled construction, with a garden color scheme. I will post photos of the piece as I work on it. Please come back to see how it evolves.

A week on an island off the coast of Norway

The rock is pink granite, it is worn smooth by the crashing waves.

This view is on the far side of the island, facing the ocean. Denmark would be off to the right and far across the sea. It's hard to describe the not-so-quiet magic of a place which is composed of water-tossed rock and sturdy heather. Being in the midst of such natural beauty puts the concerns of commercialism and competition in a distant perspective.

Color and Textures in Norway

I spent the first week of August week in the mountains southeast of Tronheim, Norway. Then we took the train to Oslo and later drove down the coast to the island.

Imagine this as the driveway leading up to your house - beautiful isn't it? This was what we saw as we approached the cabins. It's a 45 minute hike up the mountain from the logging road where we left the car. The group of buildings was built by my grandfather and another man 80 years ago. There was no electricity, or indoor plumbing. We cooked on an iron stove and used candles and kerosene lamps for light in the evenings. It was heaven.

The cabins were built on a small rise just above where the evergreens stopped growing and the birch trees took over. Blueberries, cloudberries, orchids, and ferns grew in profusion. The subtle colors and textures took my breath away.