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.