Ketchikan fabric artist, basket weaver gives talk, workshop at Petersburg library

A fabric artist and basket weaver from Ketchikan is speaking and leading a workshop in Petersburg this week.

Kathy Rousso came to Southeast Alaska for a job with the U.S. Forest Service in the 1970s. While in the region she started taking classes in weaving using natural materials. In the 1980s she did a stint in the Peace Corps in Guatemala and continued to learn about the art form using materials from central America. Back in Ketchikan she learned about Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving and eventually studied in graduate school, before landing a Fulbright grant to study maguey and agave textiles in central America.

Joe Viechnicki spoke with Rousso about her recent work and the sessions she’ll be leading here.

Rousso’s talk is Thursday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the library. The workshop will be Friday 5-8 p.m. along with Saturday and Sunday from 9:30-4:30 each day. Registration is required through the library. The class is for ages 18 and up and cost $85.