English Willow Giants--Gog and Magog

Hand drawing by Olivia Elton Barratt of the willow Magog parade float creation that will be woven by the members of the Basketmakers' Association for the Lord Mayor's Parade in 2006. — Drawing of Magog, the willow giant parade float

As I mentioned in the July 2006 issue of Wicker Woman’s Weavings, President of the Basketmakers’ Association, Olivia Elton Barratt, and other members of the Basketmakers’ Association (BA) are building two 14 ft. buff willow “giants” called Gog and Magog.

That’s Olivia’s artist’s rendition above of Magog–Gog has a “ball and chain on a stick”.

Olivia and Cathryn working on shoulders of willow giants — Olivia and Cathryn working on the shoulders of Gog and Magog

These giants are Olivia’s project during her 2006-2007 term in the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, serving in the highest position as the very first Lady Prime Warden!

She will be installed in the Court in October following the Lord Mayor’s Parade through the streets of London.

England's first Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers — Olivia Elton Barratt–Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers 2006

It is in this parade that the English Willow Giants, Gog and Magog, will travel through the streets of London, and hopefully, later take up residence in Guildhall on display for all to see and enjoy.

Members of the Basketmakers' Association; Cathryn, Bunty, Olivia and ??, standing next to the two chests of the woven willow giants. — Members of the BA-Cathryn, Bunty, Olivia and ??

Cathryn Peters, standing next to the chests of the willow giants was the only American to help weave them. — Cathryn beside the chests of the willow giants

I was the only American to help weave these English willow Giants. During my ten-day stay with Olivia, we spent the day weaving at Kay Johnson’s lovely studio.

Weaving the Giants with the other members of the Basketmakers’ Association was one of the highlights of my trip to England through the McKnight-Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Fellowship Grant that I received in 2005.

Olivia later took me all over England to see some individual studios and homes of members of the Basketmakers’ Association and also to the basketweaving and seatweaving companies in the area.

We attended the BA’s Annual Members Spring Meeting in Oxford where I met some guild members that I had only read about through the BA newsletter or saw through their websites.

Oliva was so kind as to take me to watch how rush is harvested from the river Ouse by Felicity Iron of Rush Matters, to see how coffins and hot air balloon gondolas are made at Somerset Willow Company, and to Musgrove Willows to learn how willow is grown, harvested and processed.

Stay tuned for more blog posts and pictures of this exciting Willow Giants project!