Minnesota Sounds

Grand Marais: Black Ash basketry

by Marc Sanchez, Minnesota Public Radio

Grand Marais, Minn. — As you pull into Grand Marais, heading north on Hwy 61, one of the first buildings you'll see is North House Folk School. The school offers back to the basics, eclectic classes.

Perusing their current schedule, you might be inclined to become acquainted with making your own sausage, felting a hat, or building a mandolin. If you suddenly find yourself at the school with too many hand-made items to cart back home, consider taking a black ash basket weaving class and construct yourself a pack basket.

Ian Andres recently finished an internship in Black Ash basketry at North House Folk School. Andres likes making things with native materials, and Black Ash grows in the woods along the North Shore.

Andres finds that prepping the logs for weaving can be calming. Repetitive hammering and peeling yield what will become his next basket.