About Jerry Maxey
Jerry Maxey worked with wood from the time he was a child, building things and refinishing furniture at his father's upholstery shop. In his early 30's, he found himself living in a small apartment, in a new city, without any access to a workshop.
Desperate for something to make, a weaver friend gave him a couple of little books with basket patterns in them. Only a few hand tools were required and no workshop was needed. Maxey made a couple of baskets and became obsessed. Once he got access to a wood shop again, he began making baskets with wooden bases, then later with wooden rims and rings.
The work is wicker-weave basketry of dyed rattan and seagrass cord, with lathe turned wood bases and rims. The wood is all found wood, often trees that have fallen in storms. Once he's turned the wooden elements, he leaves them indoors for at least three weeks to cure and stabilize. He then attaches rattan spokes to the wood and constructs the basket, weaving in the colors and patterns as he continues. When completed, the entire piece is finished with tung oil to bring out the colors and produces a slight aged patina to the work.