Appalachian Willow Work: Re-Establishing A Sense Of Place And Developing Concepts Of Sustainability

Willow work is an ancient traditional art form found in many different places throughout the world including the Appalachian region. In this thesis the antecedents and contemporary practice of Appalachian willow work was investigated as it relates to developing concepts of sustainability and the re-establishment of a sense of place in postmodern culture. The interdependent relationships between the material (willow), the place (Appalachia), and the artisan were examined. Appalachian willow work exemplifies the interdependent nature of all life forms on earth that we must come to understand if humankind is to survive into the twenty-first century.