The Penn-Jersey Basketry Guild is a nonprofit guild made up of members who share a common interest in basket making from different cultures around the world. They have tried for three years to get Vladimir to come teach, trying to catch him during his visits to America.
According to Ann Harrow Ridgeway, Vladimir’s “sponsor” while he is in the US, “Vladimir Yarish is working hard to increase public awareness and appreciation of Russian basketry in his region…In addition to weaving and selling his baskets, he has also been researching the long history of basketry in Russia; he is very proud of the birch bark tradition.” Each June, during the “white nights” when daylight lingers and the night is never quite dark, Vladimir harvests white birch from forests near his town of Novgorod.
Saturday, November 1 is “Guild Day,” with an 8 hours class exclusively for Penn-Jersey Basketry Group members. The cost is $55 for the class and a $55 materials fee payable directly to the instructor. If you are a guild member, or would like to learn more about becoming a guild member, please contact Mary May at 609-242-0754.
On Sunday, November 2, Vladimir’s will be presenting a one hour slide show and talk on “Russian Birch Bark Canisters, Old and New,” and a video showing how the birch bark is harvested. This lecture is open to all interested in basketry and will be held in the Seaport’s Hunting Shanty Education Center. Also open to the public is a four hour class where participants will make a Russian birch bark tray. Beginners are welcome to take the class, but each class is limited to fifteen participants, so register early if you would like to attend. Sunday’
