Pootsaya: Bridging Divides in Basketry

Photo courtesy of Iva Honyestewa.

2014 Eric and Barbara Dobkin Fellow at the School for Advanced Research (SAR) Iva Honyestewa (Hopi, Diné) discusses pootsaya baskets, which combine both coil and sifter methods of basketry. Iva, who developed this unique technique while in residence at SAR, shares how her basket making practice has evolved over the past decade.

For two years, SAR has been working with the Pueblo Fiber Arts Guild and the Poeh Cultural Center to organize and support the annual Pueblo Fiber Arts Show. Now in its thirteenth year, the show is a celebration of Pueblo fiber arts including, but not limited to, weaving, embroidery, sewing, and basketry.

In anticipation of this year’s show, SAR’s 2024 Native Arts Speaker Series explores Pueblo fiber arts in the Southwest. Artists from across mediums discuss the past, present, and future of fiber arts, revitalization efforts, and the ways in which these rich traditions continue to be passed down from generation to generation.

Events will also be livestreamed on SAR’s YouTube channel.