James Bassler

James Bassler, Artist Statement:

"I was introduced to the textile traditions at a very early age. I entered UCLA in the early 1950s. In 1953, I was drafted into the U.S. Army with a tour of duty in Europe, followed by a civilian job in England. In 1960, I returned home via a cargo ship to China and Japan. It was on this journey that I witnessed the importance of world crafts, and their essential role in cultures. Since 1980, my work has conversed with the wedge-weave structure of the Navajo, the shibori and scaffold weave of pre-Columbian cultures. For over 30 years I taught at UCLA, in the departments of Art/Design/Art History, and in World Arts and Cultures. For 12 of those years I taught textile history at the UCLA Fowler Museum. Perhaps my studio work will inspire some to become a part of this noble craft, which can include a life that does not have to be loud or fast or annoying."