Ganessa Bryant (Penobscot), Princeton, Maine
Ganessa Bryant is from a long line of weavers, yet did not begin to weave until she had reached the age of 20. Ganessa's work consists mostly of brown ash and sweetgrass pieces, made distinctive through her use of stunning color combinations. Under the instruction of Jeremy Frey, Ganessa's skill as a multi-colored point basket weaver has flourished rapidly, as her work has already appeared in the Abbe Museum of Maine, on a PBS television feature, and in private collections worldwide after only three years of weaving.
Jeremy Frey (Passamaquoddy), Princeton, Maine
Jeremy learned the skills and techniques of weaving from his mother Frances Frey, who learned from the late master weaver Sylvia Gabriel. Although a relatively young weaver, Jeremy, who specializes in making fancy baskets, has already won awards for his work including prizes at the Celebration of Basketry & Native Foods Festival at the Heard Museum. His baskets are included in many museum collections,. He enjoys doing weaving demonstrations and workshops with the public.
George Neptune (Passamaquoddy), Princeton, Maine
Weaving traditional baskets is a passion for George Neptune, who learned the craft at age four from his grandmother, master weaver Molly Neptune Parker. He primarily weaves fancy baskets of brown ash and sweetgrass, a form traditionally woven by women, but he also makes utility baskets, a form typically woven by men. He weaves because he enjoys it and hopes to pass this cultural tradition on to his children.
Molly Neptune Parker (Passamaquoddy), Indian Township, Maine
A devoted board member of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, Molly is an outstanding tradition bearer of the knowledge, language, customs, and culture of the Passamaquoddy tribe. Raised in a family of basket makers, Molly weaves both functional and fancy baskets of black ash and sweetgrass, specializing in baskets shaped as acorns and strawberries. Considered a master artist since the early 1990s, Molly has done many public workshops and demonstrations.
