Vessels are contructed from the fallen needles of the rarest pine tree in America, the Torrey Pine. The original stand of trees is located North of La Jolla California along the Pacific Coastline at the southwestern corner of the USA. The Torrey Pine is one of the world's rarest trees.
The naturally growing Torrey Pines are found nowhere else but in this part of the world. They now number less than 6,000. About 4,000 of them are in the Torrey Pines State Reserve in La Jolla and in the Reserve Extension in Del Mar. The rest of them make Santa Rosa Island, 175 miles to the north of La Jolla, their home. Initially attracted to the repetitive rhythmic nature of the coiled fiber process, this husband and wife team has transformed this craft to the level of high art. The pure structural simplicity emulates the helix, the underlying principle of the entire universe. To create positive expressions with ones life energy is a joyful enterprise. Neil sees basketry as a metaphor for discipline and order in their lives during these chaotic times
Gifted Hands Gallery is proud to represent Neil & Francina exclusively in Sedona for over 15 years.
A Sustainable Art Creation.
