Intro to Basketweaving: This two-hour basket weaving workshop covers the basics of round reed weaving, with all materials and instruction included. You'll leave with a small, completed basket of your own and the ability to recreate the craft at home! Refreshments provided. Expect to get a little wet during class, so feel free to bring an apron.

About basket weaving: One of the oldest art forms in human history, basket weaving spans nearly every culture and region. Because natural fibers are difficult to preserve, it's hard to know exactly how far back the craft goes, but its role has always been twofold: deeply practical (used for gathering and carrying food) and artistic. The materials each culture uses often reflect local flora, giving basket weaving traditions around the world their own distinct character. Today, it remains a living, evolving craft — one where weavers honor traditional methods while continuing to adapt them in new ways.

Instructor: Nicole Velez is a Richmond based art teacher and creative project manager who loves exploring all forms of art and working with a variety of materials. She has been teaching stained glass at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for five years, working with adults and kids to discover the joy of creating by hand.

A lifelong lover of art and craft, Nicole learned traditional and sculptural basket weaving at VisArts and practices the craft as a hobby and teaching workshops. She especially appreciates the forgiveness of basketry compared with the precision of stained glass.

Nicole’s classes are relaxed and designed to make the creative process accessible and fun.