The Curatorial Committee provides volunteer services to museums and individuals who are interested in knowing more about the baskets in their collections. We have been invited to curate many collections in Washington and Oregon, and are always happy to learn of new museums that would like our services.
Membership
We welcome any member of the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild who is interested in learning about basket styles, materials, and history, and who is willing to commit to the time and travel needed to participate in curations.
The Work of the Committee
We have strict protocols in each museum that we visit. We do an inventory sheet for each basket in the collection, recording dimensions, condition, materials used, and probable cultural affiliation. We make recommendations about care and conservation of fragile baskets. We take photographs of each basket, and provide each museum with copies of our inventories and a CD with all of the photos. There is no charge to museums for our services.
Training for Committee Members
Members of the group are expected to go through training sessions to learn how to safely handle baskets and evaluate them. There are also training sessions on photography. The group holds regular study meetings to share information and research on various aspects of basketry. Discussions are usually enthusiastic and lively! We learn something new in each museum, and have had the privilege of seeing unique and wonderful things.
Resources and Information Sharing
The Committee has its own small research library for use in curations. The group also gives a presentation each year at a regular CBBG meeting on some aspect of basketry or curatorial work.
Anyone who would like to learn more about the Curatorial Committee should contact Corie Samia at
(503) 244-5478
or
csamia@earthlink.net.
