Grand Marais: Black Ash basketry
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
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.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.