gallery
300 Queen Elizabeth Street
Manteo, North Carolina
gallery
300 Queen Elizabeth Street
Manteo, North Carolina
Judith Saunders Exhibit
Boundless Possibilities
In September, our Vault Gallery will feature weaving by Norfolk, VA artist Judith Saunders.
The weaving work in this exhibition is created from various materials and found objects that guide Judith in her process. She does not start with a pattern or a final concept, instead letting each piece and its unique material take its own journey. Copper, traditional reeds, hand-painted watercolor paper, and fiber are some of the materials that Judith uses to weave her sculptures, each of which present its own challenges and bring new discoveries in its creation.
"I retired in 2002 after teaching art in the Norfolk Public Schools for thirty years. While teaching I was required to periodically take courses for recertification credits. In 1986 I signed up for two weeklong workshops at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. The first week was Cold Connections in Metal with David LaPlantz from Humboldt University in California and the second week was Plaited Basketry with his wife Shereen LaPlantz. At that time I had no idea what plaited basketry meant. I can truthfully say those two weeks changed my life and played a major role in who I am today." - Judith Saunders
Exhibition Dates + Artist Bio
Boundless Possibilities will be on display in the Vault Gallery September 4-26, 2026.
There will be an opening reception on Friday, September 4 from 6pm to 8pm, where visitors can meet Judith and view her work. The opening reception is during downtown Manteo's First Friday festivities and is free and open to the public.
Judith is currently a member of the National Basketry Organization, Handweavers Guild of America as well as several regional associations and Guilds. She has taught basketry workshops in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia including at Guilders weave, Weaving Odyssey, Shenandoah Creates and the John C. Campbell Folk School.
Her work has been included in juried exhibitions including NBO Exhibitions, HGA’s Small Expressions Exhibitions, and various shows sponsored by the Hampton Art League. Her work is included in the Contemporary Basketry Artists section of the book Plaited Basketry with Birch Bark by Vladimir Yarish, Flo Hoppe and Jim Widess.