By DASHA KALISZ
With the help of funding from the Brandon Artist Guild, history teacher Matthew Clark and art teacher Dasha Kalisz hosted visiting artist Judy Dow on December 12 and 13 for an enriching interdisciplinary basket making tutorial with the 8th-grade history class. Students learned about the special, natural qualities of birch bark and how the Abenaki and others used the bark for storage containers to preserve food. To get ready for Mrs. Dow’s visit, students created maps of Vermont illustrating features that have personal significance to them. Using a papier mâché technique, students glued tissue paper to the backs of their maps to mimic birch bark. Ms. Dow and two helpers led the students through the process of making a traditional Wabanaki basket from their maps. Some students also had time to create small cannons and wove yarn baskets as well. Mrs. Dow also demonstrated how to use an atlatl, a spear-throwing tool that is used to leverage a spear to achieve greater velocity. The 8th graders enjoyed their experience throwing the atlatl as well.
AN EXAMPLE OF the basketry that Dasha Kalisz’s art students learned to make with the guidance of Abenaki artist Judy Dow.
About Judy Dow from the Vermont Art Council Website:
“I am an Abenaki educator. I teach science, history and math through art. Currently I’ve been working with Gedakina and the University of New Hampshire through a National Science Foundation grant documenting sustainable land use practices with Indigenous youth in New England. This documentation has allowed us to create some of the most amazing maps and art projects. I also continue to teach basketry and beading. These skills often get lost in today’s fast pace world where it is easier to just buy a kit. Understanding the land helps to learn the basketry process. Using basket making to teach both science and math is such a great hands-on way to learn. My work has been on exhibit throughout the US and Canada including displays at the National Museum of the American Indians in Washington DC, McCord Museum and Botanical Garden in Montreal, the University of Vermont and New Hampshire, some of my baskets were part of a three year tour with Honor the Earth Impacted Nations visiting, NYC, Minneapolis, Santa Fe, Portland, Chicago and more.”
