Artwork copyright Elaine Timentwa Emerson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1985.

Berry Basket, 1984

Elaine Timentwa Emerson
American Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Methow Band (born 1941)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

About the Artwork

Berry Basket is part of Native American artist Elaine Timentwa Emerson's body of traditional baskets, create in Omak, Washington using natural materials. This artwork is part of Beyond Blue Mountains, a collection that was curated by late Tlingit (Native Alaskan) artist Jim Schoppert. It presents the work of Native American artists of diverse heritage, ideas, materials, and styles. The collection takes an in-depth look at the artists’ unique voices and interpretations of tradition.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State Arts Commission.

About the Artist

Native American artist and basket maker Elaine Timentwa Emerson (Methow Band) was born and raised on the family cattle ranch on the Colville Reservation in Northeastern Washington. From an early age, her parents instilled the importance of carrying on Methow language, craft, and cultural traditions. She started weaving seriously at age 28. In her own words, "The reason I committed myself to teach basketry was to prove that as a people we are still here and basket making was not a dead art – a victim of forced assimilation… A basket maker must be a botanist, environmentalist, ecologist, and marketer, all of these things combined." Emerson was honored with a Washington State Governor's Heritage Award in 1995 for her contribution to the culture, customs, and traditions of the Colville people.