Toni Best

"Learning basketry in the eighth grade, I have progressed from more standard symmetrical pieces to those which are "outside the box." As a retired musician, I have found that as I coil, I hear music which I transfer to my coils with movement and undulations. Each piece has a part of my soul and heart, which I give to the viewer."

Since basket weaving for over 60 years, Toni feels that basketry is part of her being. When playing music, she felt creating musicality and beauty were the most important things in her performing. Now she takes this musicality and imagination and transfers it into her basket and gourd creations. She embraces the Native American belief that "listening to the basket" is foremost in her work.

Most of Toni's baskets start with a gourd base, so selecting a gourd which "speaks" to her is most important. Visualizing the cut of the gourd and the future color can take weeks. Selecting a fiber or thread by color and size helps to create the entire piece. The southern pine needles in the baskets create the movement due to their suppleness. The basket tells Toni which way to proceed.

Toni learned pine needle basketry from an elderly woman in NC. She has taken workshops from Flo Hoppe, Don Weeke, Sue Coleman, Jill Choate, Lois Rainwater, and Elizabeth Whyte Schulze. Her Masters of Music in Classical Organ Performance from Syracuse has added the joy of movement which she transfers into her basketry.