Folk Arts - Master Artist - Vera Ryerson

Vera Ryerson learned Yurok basketry from her mother, taught as a teen. She taught Yurok basketry to students for twenty years. Vera was one of the few Yurok women remaining who taught Yurok style weaving. Vera has received many awards for her basketry skills, and participated in many demonstrations and shows. Vera was very dedicated to the preservation of her culture and traditional Yurok basketry. Vera supported herself by teaching, lecturing and selling her beautifully crafted baskets for many years. Consequently, she was an adept teacher and a skilled basket weaver. The Yurok are a Native American tribe who lived along the Klamath River in northern California.

As a recipient of a 1992 Apprenticeship grant, Ryerson taught Laura Jordan to weave acorn baskets—built to be eaten out of—and a baby doll basket. Laura gathered materials following traditional methods.

As a recipient of a 1994 Apprenticeship grant, Ryerson continued to teach Laura to weave traditional Yurok tobacco baskets. Ryerson’s teachings focused on using traditional Yurok designs, study of Yurok symbols, splitting spruce roots and using the woodwardia fern for overlaying.

As a recipient of a 1996 Apprenticeship grant, Ryerson continued to teach Laura Jordan advanced techniques in Yurok Basket weaving.

Laura Jordan was Vera Ryerson’s granddaughter, and studied Yurok weaving techniques periodically while growing up. Laura Jordan lived in Federal Way, Washington and made many visits to Vera’s home in Eureka, California. During these visits Laura shared valuable time with her grandmother, learning family traditions she anticipated sharing with others. Laura hoped to sustain traditional Yurok basketry both by learning the art form and by passing the skill along to her daughter and little sister.

Unfortunately both Vera Ryerson and Laura Jordan passed away in 1997.