Ed Rossbach (1914-2002, USA) 

Untitled
1982
Woven paper; ht. 5, dia 6.5 in.

The well-known fiber artist Lillian Elliott wrote that when she was a student in 1960, "the idea that a basket could be art had not yet occurred to anyone but Ed Rossbach." His book, Baskets as Textile Art, published in 1973, surprised, and even shocked, the still conservative textile community. By 1976, when Rossbach's The New Basketry was published, baskets were firmly entrenched in the textile scene, due in large part to this artist's persistent innovation. Rossbach's baskets are created of nontraditional materials such as plastic and newspaper (this piece is made of recycled printed paper from magazines and advertisements) and by non-loom weaving techniques.

"I sometimes think that the objects I am making with my newspaper and plastic tubing, etcetera are not baskets at all. And I wonder why I am concerned about designations. If the new materials can be made to say something about traditional baskets, ok. Or, if they can be made to say something else that seems important, or amusing, ok. If all the evocations that surround traditional baskets can accrue to my work, why not?"

References: Rossbach, Ed. The New Basketry. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1976.

_____. The Nature of Basketry. West Chester Pa: Schiffer 1986.

_____. 40 Years of Exploration and Innovation in Fiber Art. Ashville NC: Lark Books, 1980.

Excellent original condition.