Panier acadien / Acadian Basket

Basket making is an art form which has been revived in our area.  I met this fellow named George Saulnier when I was commissioned to create a portrait of him while he created an Acadian basket. The process  starts by gathering spruce roots, soaking them in water to soften the bark which is then removed .  The long root is split in two and then weaved over a wooden frame.  I was amazed of the process that George demonstrated.