“Cherokee People and Invasive Species,” Nov. 11

Published 4:15 pm Thursday, November 2, 2017

Join Conserving Carolina and Walnut Creek Preserve (WCP) for a free lecture on “Cherokee People and Invasive Species,” presented by Nancy Basket on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at WCP.      

Have you even wondered what good could possibly come from kudzu, the non-native and invasive vine that engulfs everything in its path and plagues the Southeast? Have you ever thought, “What can you do with kudzu?” Does it have any uses? Can it be beneficial?

Nancy Basket hopes to change opinions about kudzu from that of a maligned weed into a new and inexhaustible resource. Nancy will share her Native American heritage by re-telling ancient legends orally and through her art. Learn local historical facts you never knew and contemplate ageless teaching stories. 

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Then, after the program, join Nancy for a fun and informative workshop where you will make your own coiled kudzu basket to take home! There is a charge for the workshop. Limited space is available and pre-registration is required.

A contemporary basket maker and fiber artist, Nancy takes her name from the work she does, and from her Cherokee grandmother from long ago, Margaret Basket. She is an artist-in-education in basketry, papermaking, and storytelling in the Carolinas. She teaches her art and shares stories with public schools, colleges, to elders at retirement homes, and more. She also shares her talents at powwows and primitive skills gatherings. Nancy makes pine needle and kudzu baskets large and miniature, lamp shades, paper designs, kudzu cloth, and large eight foot sculptures depicting Cherokee stories. Her work can be seen at the Schiele Museum and the Barnwell Museum, in “Last of the Mohicans,” and in her shop in Walhalla, S.C. 

To register for the workshop or to obtain more information, contact Conserving Carolina at 828-859-5060 or email Pam Torlina at pam@conservingcarolina.org. For more information about Nancy Basket, visit www.nancybasket.com. 

For more information about Walnut Creek Preserve and directions, visit walnutcreekpreserve.com.  Please note, Walnut Creek Preserve is private property and guests are only allowed on the property by invitation (a planned event or scheduled group). 

For more information on Conserving Carolina visit conservingcarolina.org.

– submitted by Pam Torlina