Walter Brooks

Conecuh County

Split White Oak Baskets

Octogenarian Walter Brooks is a self-taught basket maker who began his art in the late seventies after his retirement. He studied various instructional books to learn techniques and structure. Trial and error have also played an important part in his finely developed skill.  The strenuous activity of creating a work of woven art from a wooden log has created sore fingers, blisters, and cuts, but Walter feels that the activity is therapeutic for his arthritic hands.

Walter uses white oak timbers that he harvests on his family property and surrounding areas. With a vice and straight blade hunting knife, he draws out even strips of flexible wood that will become the baskets. The size of each basket is determined by the length of the strips available. While most of his baskets are natural in color, Walter has experimented with insertions of colored strips in unexpected places. For his soft blue tone, he soaks the strips in water that has been stained with a handful of rusty nails.

Walter’s baskets are also available at art shows around the country.