Willow Bender
Originally from the Netherlands, Anneh Kessels now has her studio and willow farm in the bulkley valley. She has found her way to Quick, BC, in a very round-about way, and is extremely happy to live and work in this great and lively community!
She enjoys working with natural materials collected locally. Nature is a great inspiration to her works, as well as functionality! She likes incorporating bulrush, birch bark, willow bark, spruce bark, driftwood, rocks, leather and clay pottery into her basket adventures. After finishing 6 years of education in The Netherlands, including an Art Program, Anneh has travelled extensively and has studied and practiced pottery, photography, felting, painting, weaving, silver smithing and basketry in different parts of the world. Anneh has been making willow baskets for the last 18 years. Initially book and self-taught on her baskets, in the last 6 years she has participated in lessons by renowned Basketry Professionals from Eastern and western Europe, The States and Canada. Anneh enjoys going out and wild-crafting all her willows, bulrushes, spruce and birch along local rivers, streams and lakes. In addition to growing her own colorful basketry willows on the farm in Quick. After harvesting she cures, sorts and grades all her materials, before making them into traditional and one-of-a-kind baskets, sculptures, fences, gates, room dividers, lampshades and furniture. In addition to creating, there is a great gifts in teaching to all ages and the workshops have become a big part of joy in life. |
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