A
Chumash woman, Linda Aguilar, has made baskets since her early childhood.
She has made baskets from deer grass and closed stitched with fibrous
strands of reed- like grass called juncas, the traditional materials
used in a Chumash basket. It was in mastering the use of horsehair,
that she found her niche, in the world of basket makers. She estimates
that she has made over 6000 baskets, and the horsehair ones sells
the best. This will come as no surprise to anyone who has seen an
Aguilar basket, they are beautiful!
The artist Linda Aguilar is a 1978 graduate of the University
of California in Santa Barbara. Her baskets have been shown at the
Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, the Stagecoach Museum at Newbury
Park, California has over 100 of Lindas miniature baskets
on permanent display. One of her finest larger coiled horsehair
baskets with more traditional Chumash abalone shell ornamentation
was added to the permanent collection of outstanding examples of
contemporary art in the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington, D.C. It is no surprise she has won way over 50 "first
place" and "best of show" ribbons. At this writing
she has made and sold almost 6000 baskets. When South Africas
Nelson Mandella visited Los Angeles, Mayor Tom Bradley presented
him with an Aguilar basket. The Dalai Lama of Tibet was also presented
with one of Linda Aguilars lovely coiled horsehair baskets.
While there can be question that her degree in studio art has had
an influence on her baskets, it has been the shear production of
so many baskets that has refined her skill into a talent which is
second to none. It was this that got her work featured in Dr. Gregory
Schaafs, Ph.D. (A well-respected expert in Native American
basketry) video "A TREASURY OF CALIFORNIA BASKETS."
The Chumash tribe of Southern California were one of Californias
largest tribes, but by 1865, disease and massacres by Europeans
reduced them to a few thousand. Today they take great pride in reviving
their dances, songs, stories and crafts, such as basketry. Linda
is something of a contrary, in that she will almost always do exactly
the opposite of what is expected of her. Tell her to make a large
basket and she will make one so tiny, it easily sits atop a dime.
It is these miniature baskets that collectors have developed a strong
desire for. Like a contrary she has a rather pronounced sense of
humor. This is also reflected in her baskets. In fact Linda believes
just about anything and everything can be pulled into her baskets.
This is why she only watches comedy on the television as she
weaves a basket. She believes that she could run a risk of weaving
negative energy into the basket, if she allowed herself to be exposed
to it. It must be true because her baskets are truly works of art
and lovely to behold. The use of horsehair is fairly new when it
comes to basketry. Linda loves it as a material. More important
collectors love it. People who love and own horses have cut the
mane and tail and then sent the hair to Linda to make them a basket
so that they can remember their favorite horse with an Aguilar Basket
made from its hair. Linda believes this adds something to
the basket and makes it even more special. It is hard to say what
makes them so special to collectors like myself. It is the craftsmanship,
they are so detailed and so balanced. It surely is their beauty,
it amazes how different each one can be. It is their price, they
range from a very affordable $40 to several thousand, something
for everyones pocket book. Mostly I think it is their design,
they are very well made. My cat got a hold of one and played with
it for hours and did no damage to it. Linda later told me this is
common, cats are attracted to them like catnip, and never has one
been able to hurt the basket. Several people have even purchases
small ones as a toy for their cats. I sure wouldnt recommend
this, but it appeals to the clown in Linda. She has many very famous
people collecting her baskets and has won all kinds of awards, but
she refuses to take herself too serious. She is simply a Chumash
woman who has found her niche. I would agree, but I as one of her
very serious collectors couldnt be more pleased.
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