Tree Bark Container with Handle

This oval container is made of two pieces of tree bark joined together with wire. A circular-cut piece of bark is attached to the bottom with adhesive. The handle, which is also fastened with wire, retains some of the original nodes of the twig from which it was shaped. The artist collected the materials from a local construction site he visited with fellow members of the Basket Bunch, a Prince George’s County, Maryland group of basket makers. As such, this basket speaks to the interconnection of human creativity and the social and natural environments in which it is deployed.

After moving to Washington, DC following World War II, Ira Blount mastered dozens of artisanal crafts. His love for crafting, learning, and community engagement would endure over the course of his long life and career.