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"Cherokees have a long tradition of basket weaving so I'm
keeping the tradition alive."
"Mary Aitson, Cherokee, creates award-winning hand-woven
baskets in the traditional Cherokee style and pattern. Furthermore,
Aitson practices a method unique to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
in which the walls of each basket are double woven, comparable
to a basket within a basket.
The dyes and weaving materials Aitson uses are completely natural,
with the exception of aniline dyes for certain colors. When Aitson
began basket weaving, she spent a great deal of time researching
and perfecting the use of natural dyes, as this would become her
specialty. To attain such intense colors in her basketry, Aitson
must carefully choose and prepare the dyes. Each dye is created
from richly pigmented resources including black walnuts, bloodroot,
blueberries, red onionskins, blackberries, elderberries, pokeberries,
and peach leaves. Strong weaving materials are prepared from palm
reed, honeysuckle, and buckbrush.
Aitson received her first lesson in basket weaving in 1992 from
Cherokee master weaver Mavis Doering at the Quartz Mountain Oklahoma
Arts Institute. Since then she has continued to advance her knowledge
of weaving at Rose State College, Midwest City, Oklahoma, and
the Cherokee Heritage Center, Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Over the years, Aitson has participated and received awards in
various American Indian art markets and exhibits including Red
Earth Festival, Oklahoma City; Kirkpatrick Gallery at the Omniplex,
Oklahoma City; Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Santa
Fe Indian Market, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Aitson has demonstrated
basket weaving for many organizations and schools, and has frequently
donated her pieces to assist in fund raising efforts for both
museums and educational institutions.
Aitson was born and raised in Adair County in eastern Oklahoma.
After graduating from Stilwell High School, she earned both a
Bachelor of Science and Masters degree from Northeastern Oklahoma
State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Prior to a full time
career as an artisan, Aitson spent 38 years as a schoolteacher
in Kansas and western Oklahoma before retiring in 1993. Aitson
currently resides in Woodward, Oklahoma."
Honors and Awards include:
1997 Red Earth: 3rd in Basketry Division
1998 Red Earth: 1st and 3rd in Basketry Division
1998 Santa Fe Indian Market: 3rd in Basketry Division
1999 Santa Fe Indian Market: 2nd in Basketry Division, 3rd in
Miniature Basketry Division
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