Weaver rustles up living artwork

by Megan Gnad | 14th July 2010

A living willow weaving by
Kakanui basketmaker Mike
Lilian will soon sit in pride of
place in the Waitaki Community
Gardens.

Yesterday he began creating
the willow screen, which was
partly funded by the Waitaki
District Council and through
fundraising.

Mr Lilian said basket willow
was  live material, which would
develop roots and eventually
grow together and ``become a
unit'' similar to a hedge.

He was approached by
Waitaki Community Gardens

Trust chairwoman Marion Shore
to undertake the project.

He has also made two
centrepieces, which are featured
around the site.

Mr Lilian will be working on
the weavings this Saturday and
Sunday and the public are
invited to go along and watch
how it is done.

It would be held at the

Chelmer Street site and
postponed if there was too much
rain, he said.

Gardens co-ordinator Annie
Beattie said she had already
received interest from around
Oamaru and Dunedin.

"It's really brought the
gardens alive and has given it a
little bit of dimension,'' she said.

Mr Lilian was self-taught in
the art, but spent time with
artisans in France in the 90s and
still incorporates many of the
techniques he learned there into
his work.

"I think the concept of the
gardens is fantastic ... it's very
exciting,'' he said.