Marvin Cohodas: Baskets and Basket Weavers of Western North America

Marvin Cohodas, Professor Emeritus for the University of British Columbia’s Department of Art History, Visual Art & Theory has interests that encompass both ancient American visual representation (i.e. ‘Pre-Hispanic Art’), contemporary ritual and weaving arts of Maya peoples in Southern Mexico and Guatemala, and Native American basket weaving in California and Nevada. Research on late 19th and early 20th century weaving for the curio trade resulted in a book on two Northern California basket weavers, Elizabeth and Louise Hickox. He is also an exhibited basket weaver.

When the Nevada Museum of Art organized the exhibition and book Tahoe: A Visual History in 2015 under the direction of Senior Curator Ann Wolfe, included was an entire section on Washoe basketry with more than 100 pages in the book dedicated to this subject. One contributor to the project was Dr. Marvin Cohodas, a longtime art historian and professor at the University of British Columbia. Much of his career has been focused on the careful study of Washoe basketry.

• CAE2008: Marvin Cohodas: Contemporary Maya Ritual Dancing and Weaving Arts
• CAE1906: Great Basin Native Artists