Ground Basket
The particular shape of this basket is dictated by its function — a vessel for carrying provisions in the days when transport between the districts was arduous and often limited to simple tracks or footpaths. Moreover, the wide opening and thicker straps or handles of these baskets were necessary to transport tools and provisions to and from farm “grounds” and the Islands’ scattered settlements.
About the Artist
Marlena Anglin
b. 1933
Born in West Bay, Grand Cayman, Marlena Anglin learned thatching from her mother and soon became a highly skilled rope maker and weaver of baskets, hats, and other items. She is an active member of the Cayman Islands Traditional Arts Council, creating work for festivals and heritage days as well as teaching crafts to local schoolchildren. She regularly featured in the NGCI annual festival Art@Governor’s and has participated in the NGCI exhibitions 21st Century Cayman exhibition in 2010, Revive: Contemporary Caymanian Craft (2017), Island of Women: Life at Home During our Maritime Years (2020), The People’s Collection: A 25-Year Legacy (2022), and The Ties that Bind (2022).
