Introduction

After making a survey on the websites in English and Russian parts of the Internet that are devoted to basket weaving , I came to the conclusion that in either of these parts there is a definite lack of the information on this subject. A few pages of some educational institutions' websites, crafts magazines, and homepages are dealing with the topic of basket weaving, but this definitely is not enough to engage into the full experience exchange with the colleagues, especially in Russian, publish the pictures of the basketry, guides and manuals on this craft and organize topical seminars by means of the informational technologies.

This is how the idea of creating the site like this was born. The site that is devoted to this subject, the site that could allow a more effective idea exchange between artisans from all over the world, that could get new people involved with the craft, that could contribute to the revival of the long-forgotten homecrafts in Russia and New Independent States, reviving the national culture and traditions and helping the people in our countries to communicate with each other and improve the ecological and economical situation.

The subject of this project is directly connected with my profession, for being the craftsman of arts and crafts in basket weaving I view the perspective of my improvement and professional maturity in utilizing the moderns technologies of information exchange and communications (like Internet). Also, I don't want to present my art just as a set of tricks and techniques to artistically and technologically process the material, (although this topic will be vastly covered on the pages of this site), but also as one of the ways to reach and obtain the inward harmonious unity with the universe, the fullness of existence. For nowadays, the person, who lives in an industrial and urban environment, is alienated from the nature, his labor lacks the tie with natural cycle. Modern inhabitant of the city becomes farther and farther away from the soil. Therefore it is very important to realize yourself as a part of a huge universe, where the person should live in harmony with Nature and according to its laws. Besides this, the basket weaving is an inherent part of the historical and cultural heritage of the human race. Originating thousands of years ago, this craft was closely connected to miracle, and any actions that were dealing with transforming the material gained symbolic meaning and were done as a ritual. Much later in peasant families the techniques of the traditional craft were transferred from hands to hands, from elders to the children, while they were observing them at work. Nowadays in our urban society this tradition was broken. Our site will in some way help to preserve the tradition, to restore the missing link in the chain of arts and crafts heritage. One of the goals of this site is to promote the revival of the folk and cultural traditions, to form the interest and respect to arts, crafts, cultural values and vast traditional heritage of Russian nation among the young people of our country. I am convinced that economical development of our country is impossible without a social and cultural growth.

The existence of the topical site "Basket Weaving On-Line" will allow to continue over the Internet the cooperation with the American colleagues that was started during the period of my internship. Publishing the pictures of the basketry on the pages of this site will draw the additional interest to it. This can be helpful in organizing exhibitions and dealing with the colleagues all over the world. The manual, published on this site in electronic format, will help those who are wishing to start or the beginning craftsmen in mastering the art. Constantly updated news will give the latest info on exhibitions, exchanges, new books and other news in the world of basket weaving. The chat page will significantly enrich the set of tricks and techniques of any craftsman, for they always have something to share with each other. Announcements will help in practical work in the workshop, for here one can place the announcement covering wide range of services. The pages of education institutions will contain the information about schools where they have courses on basket weaving. 

Other graduates, especially ones that work in the field of culture and education, doubtlessly will find the use of my knowledge and information posted on this site, because without getting students to know the folk and cultural traditions, one can't achieve harmonious development of a personality. Other graduates may benefit for their projects from my experience of making this virtual site, and I'm open to work together and offer my knowledge for their use.

Surely, I'm far from thinking that my project will satisfy all the tastes and will fully cover the subject. No. And I appeal to all of you who will find time to check out the content of this site to send me your corrections, wishes, and sincere feedback, for which I thank you in advance.

I want to express my gratitude to Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State and American International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) for giving me the opportunity to introduce various people to the wonderful craft of basket weaving on the pages of this site. I would also like to sincerely thank the creators of this site: Vladimir Kazimirov (web design), Andrey Shtifanov (programming), Yury Strelnikov (photo art), Mikhail Dylkov (translation and interpreting). I found in them the genuine vivid interest for the national art and love to the work they do. Thank you! 

Introduction I Origins I Russian Concept Any place on the face of the earth, where the human being lives, is somewhat unique, and each of them contains original and peculiar nature with colors, rhythm, sounds that are inherent only to it.

Darkness photo http://www.darknessite.narod.ru

The love to the native land begins in the early childhood. And if the person was raised well, it is retained in his soul for a long time. From the early years child develops the feelings, character traits, which closely interconnect him with his nation, his country. The roots of this influence are in the language, in folk songs and dances, in music and art. Now we observe the increasing interest for folk culture and art. At the same time we witness the counterfeiting of the true cultural values, we see the imitations of traditional national arts. Watering down the borders between amateur (naive, primitive) art and folk art puts the artistic Russian culture in jeopardy. Commercialization of the culture, which resulted from modern market relations, also puts folk art in danger of loosing the specifics of national creativity. Many crude counterfeit look-alikes are made in the image of traditional art, and this, without a doubt, affects the artistic an esthetic taste of the young generation to the worse. More than anything else, we have to defend children and teenagers, craftsmen and teachers, and we ought to enrich the social experience of the culture workers with the right concept and understanding of the basics of traditional folk art, national culture. In order to achieve this we have to possess the scientific and theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills. The works of our well-known researchers in the field of folk art: A.B. Bakushinsky, I.Ya. Boguslavskaya, G.V. Wagner, V.S. Voronov, V.M. Vasilenko, V.V. Stasov, A.I. Ivanov, B.A. Rybakov, M.A. Nekrasova and many others can serve as the best aid in this area.

The influence of the traditional art upon the person should be viewed in its multifunctionality: utilitarian — objects used in everyday life; festive — many objects and ornamental patterns that adorn them are connected to the particular system of beliefs and traditions; aesthetical — the purpose of the adorning home, object or clothes is to show the unity of the human creativity with the universe, with the national history. Folk art within itself incorporates the personality of a craftsman. He is becoming sort of cultural tutor and the source of relaying the historical heritage. In his perception of sounds, rhythm, color, smell, artisan is close to the child. On the other hand, possessing the life experience, he is able to influence the soul of a disciple, rather than just giving him the knowledge of the tricks of the trade. This view on the traditional art allows us to see its close connection with the other educational subjects, like native language and literature, history and ethnography, Russian philosophy, ethnology etc.

One of the essential qualities of folk art and traditional culture is the stability of its main principles, based on the relationship between the nature, human and his historical and cultural past. This topic also is an ecological one, for one has to take into consideration, that the perfection of the human soul goes through his attitude toward nature, and ecological crisis, basically comes down to the cultural crisis.

One of the qualities that are necessary in human attitude toward the nature is attention. Attention to the blooming bud, to the arriving birds, to the condition of the soil. When the person is involved in a craft like basket weaving, he just has to take heed to the natural cycle, to the peculiarity of the willow twig growth. He has to care about plants. These care and attention repay hundredfold and reward the master, who is by his experienced twigs clipping causes many more twigs to sprout and the bushes to start intensively develop. This turns wild undergrowth into plantations, preserves and improves our natural environment.

Introduction I Concept I Russian

        Origins

The coming into being of our national applied art goes back to the time immemorial. Archeological excavations and ancient manuscripts witness the existence of various crafts in the land of Russia. These crafts were marked with high technical and artistic standard. For instance, in 9^th-12^th centuries in the cities of Kiev Russia and ancient Novgorod there were almost 200 kinds of crafts, and later — even in the young Moscow princedom among the 40 craftsmen specialties there was a significant number of the basket weavers. By the beginning of the 14^th century, besides Moscow there rose up several centers of traditional art: Yaroslavl and Kostroma, Vologda and Ustug the Great, Galich and Kizhi, Pskov and Smolensk, Tula and Nizhny Novgorod, and the cities in between the rivers Oka and Volga: Vladimir Alexin, Serpukhov, Kolomna. And everywhere, among various crafts there always was the basket weaving. Its history is rich and original.

This peculiarity is best explained by the great role of wood in Russian history and life. We can't overestimate the impact that the Russian forests had on the everyday life of our ancestors. At all times the woods, ranging from a thin willow twig to immense oaks and giant pine trees, accompanied our forefathers since birth throughout their whole life. Everything was made out of wood: child's cradle, and first bast sandals, broom for the bath — a universal cure, and sonorous balalaika, melodious pipe — the delight to the soul, and the torch for the girls gathering, painted wedding shaft bow with Valdai bell and free mushrooms, nuts, fruits and berries, hunter's luck and a fragrant branch from the bird cherry tree.

Without a doubt, forest was greatly affecting the forming of the Russian character, its aesthetical and moral principles. Under the influence of the woods the best character traits that are inherent to the Russian person were formed: simplicity and benevolence, poetry and soft-heartedness, tenderness and philanthropy. And at the same time unbendable will, bravery, courage in labor and in the feat of arms.

The abundance of forests allowed to always have wood. Wonderful natural qualities of it always drew the craftsmen to it, generously paying back for their skill, hard work, diligence and ingenuity. Our ancestors made small wooden peasant houses and huge mansions adorned with elaborate woodcarvings. With great craftsmanship they made different pots and pans, cultural, labor and hunting objects, like plows and harrows, pipes and balalaikas, bear-spears and clubs, elastic long-range bows and thin destructive arrows for them, mallets and bludgeons for large animals, and if needed — for the enemy; wattled fishing cordage and traps for animals and birds. We need to say also that some of the fortresses and strongholds, redoubts on the battlefields besides wooden fences were made of huge baskets filled with rocks and soil. Anyway, the forest always loyally defended, fed and clothed many people.

That's why having such a rich history, we, like no one else, have to be the worthy successors of Russian basket weavers, successfully comprehending the ancient craft of controlling the plasticity, durability, lightness and flexibility of a willow!

Besides, the woven article nowadays has not lost its attraction and actuality, whether the simple made basket to pick up the mushrooms, or highly artistic furniture, made by a professional craftsman. Neither simple nor complicated article can be done without loving the labor, without creative approach. And creation starts with the desire to do something with one's own hands. To do means to create. Creativity is the escape from the life's everyday routine, one step up higher, revealing the new personal abilities. Those who pursue the way of creativity move towards the peaks of art. Maybe not everyone will reach the peak, but the creative process perfects and elevates the person.