JAMES BASSLER

It was in the 1950's, at the request of the U.S. Military, that James Bassler had the opportunity to "see the world," which for him included the discovery of the fabulous treasures to be found in patterns, materials and processes of the indigenous textiles of the world.   As an art major at UCLA in the 1960's, he began to develop a visual vocabulary and expression and began to weave.  His early work reflected the  strip weaving of Africa including ikat processes of Asia and Peru.   By the 1980's his structural repertoire focused exclusively on the Navajo wedge weave of the 1880¹s.  To prepare for this exhibition, Bassler has looked back in time to re-interpret a technique used by some of the earliest Andean cultures, discontinuous warp (scaffold weave).   He discovered, by using this most primitive loom technology, a greater freedom, not a bad message in today's complex world.   The three pieces, Discontinuous I, II, III, handspun linen and synthetic dyes, demonstrate the amazing variety and latitude possible in terms of pattern and color relationships.  283 Kisses is another example of discontinuous warp with handspun alpaca, natural and synthetic dyes.  The shibori surface (tie dye) reflects a process used widely in pre Columbian Andean cultures.  Tracking Nasca Patterns is an example of sophisticated use of natural dyes and cotton from Oaxaca, Mexico and Guatemala. Inspired by the warriors of Ghana , the Navajo, and the Peruvians, each composition sings with the command and splendor of ancient expertise combined with the passion of Bassler himself.


Selected Permanent Collections

Saks Fifth Avenue, San Francisco, CA

North Dakota Museum of Art, Fargo, ND

Oakland Museum of Art, Oakland, CA

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN

American Craft Museum, New York, NY

LongHouse Reserve, East Hampton, NY

The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

State of California, Sacramento, CA

State of Kansas, Wichita, KS

Bank of Denver, Denver, CO

Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles

Hillcrest Country Club, Los Angeles, CA

Ameron Corporation, Monterey Park, CA
Filmways Incorporated, Century City, CA

Property Mortgage Insurance Company, Los Angeles, CA

Cookeville General Hospital, Cookeville, TN

Avery Transportation Company,
Corporate Office, Cookeville, TN

Bank of Knoxville, Knoxville, TN

USA TODAY, Corporate Office, Arlington, VA

First Oklahoma Bancorporation, Oklahoma City, OK         

The Chubb Insurance Group, New York, NY

First National Bank, Lenoir City, TN

James Bassler's Complete Resume

Please contact us for other available works
info@jsauergallery.com