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Art from the ground up. San Diego-Hugh Smith When Nadine Spier of San Diego, California, weaves her basketry, it is literally made from the ground up…with native pine needles. “It’s a method going back to primitives and revived during the Civil War when raw materials were at a premium” she explains. These pieces seem to flow organically from the earth from which they are made. Her baskets are made from long needle pine indigenous to California’s southern coast. “I’ve been doing this for a living since the 90’s. My heart is in teaching the craft. It’s a very tactile form of art and each piece reminds me of sculpting the womb.” Every piece is woven from various pine species that only grow with needles long enough to weave, in California and/or Florida. These (holding a bunch in her hands) I sweep from the floor of my yard, wash them to remove bacteria and dry them until I am ready to weave. I literally choose them individually on my hands and knees and each one becomes a life of its own.” They hold the allure of Indian pottery and baskets while maintaining a distinct style of modern art. Pieces may be entirely pine needles or have elements of quartz, obsidian, copper and found objects. Her fiber art has been exhibited in galleries from coast to coast in one woman shows and exhibits. Nadine’s baskets find a ready market in many upscale homes around the world since they “wear well” in any architecture be it modern or traditional. Her baskets are still a bargain at around $2,000 each but as the demand for her work increases, the prices are bound to climb. More of her work can be seen at www.Nadinespier.com

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Art from the ground up

Nadine Spier resurrects a primitive art form with a new dimension; weaving with pine needles.Nadine’s baskets find a ready market in many upscale...

by Hugh Smith in United States on 07/06/2009

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Art from the ground up

Arts & Entertainment

Art from the ground up

Nadine Spier resurrects a primitive art form with a new dimension; weaving with pine needles.Nadine’s baskets find a ready market in many upscale homes around the world since they “wear...
by Hugh Smith, on 7th of June 2009

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