Utility Basket
Powell’s Utility Basket is an archetypal example of traditional Caymanian thatch weaving and the ubiquitous baskets that were used for ‘backing’ or carrying provisions home. The sturdy long strap — designed to be worn across the body or over the bearer’s forehead — and wide opening both attest to the functional uses of such baskets in the past, yet Powell’s artistry elevates the purely utilitarian design of this object into the realm of fine art.
About the Artist
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Powell
b. 1937
Born in West Bay, Grand Cayman, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Powell learned the skill of thatching from her mother, who made baskets for use on the family farm. In the early 1970s, she learned advanced techniques from a visiting teacher and became a professional basket maker. Powell is now a central member of the Cayman Islands Traditional Arts Council. Her work is featured in Art of the Cayman Islands, the Islands’ first formal art history (Scala Fine Art Publishers Ltd.: Fall 2016). She was a regular exhibitor at NGCI’s Art@Governor’s festival and NGCI exhibitions include: All Access (2015), Revive: Contemporary Caymanian Craft (2017), and Island of Women: Life at Home During our Maritime Years (2020).
