The Art of Pack Baskets with Jim Abbott
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- With almost 200 pack baskets out there with Jim Abbotts signature on them, it had been about 2 years since Jim had made one.
Cancer got a hold of Jim a couple of years back, and those of us who have first-hand experience with this disease know how quickly it can derail one's life or even worse. I'd say Jim is one of the lucky ones that managed to beat it, but somehow, lucky doesn't seem to be the right word. Jim is one of those guys who makes his own luck with incredible faith, strength, and determination. Whatever it is, every minute with him seems like a blessing.
Jim's basket-making hobby started in the early 90s when legendary basketmaker and craftsman Jack Leadley told Jim he would like to apprentice him. Jim, a contractor & carpenter with 2 small children at the time, certainly had his hands full but realized the magnitude of this offer and told Jack he would make the time. I call this a hobby only because despite selling his baskets for around $500, Jim had more profitable ways of making money with his contracting business. He didn't set out to make baskets for money. He makes them for the love of the craft, the art form, the tradition, and the joy they bring to others.
He mentioned a guy in Hollywood making a lesser-quality basket and selling it for five times what he charges. Jim's a smart guy, and if he wanted to, he could certainly find a client to pay that much for his basket as well, but that's not Jim's target audience. Jim wants to see his baskets get to people who will use them. He'd prefer to see his baskets packing a deer out of the Adirondack mountains instead of pretentiously placed on the mantel of a fireplace.
As I spent time with Jim following the process of making a basket right back to selecting and felling a black ash tree, it became clear that if Jim makes you a basket, it is very much Jim doing you a favour and thinking very highly of you. Jim doesn't have a website or any social media. Yet his waiting list has about 25 names, and I don't think he's adding any more at this point. I certainly let him know I would be interested more than once, but he very politely avoided confirming my order. Although, I'm not giving up just yet.
Cody Bokshowan, Creative Director, WeatherWool
weatherwool.com/
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Thank you Jim for sharing your love of life, family and craft with us. Cody you captured it all beautifully. High value charecter and content!
Such a wonderful documentary. The world needs more men like Jim. I hope I get to meet him someday.
Great craftsman and glad you documented it.
Thank you Nature into action for showcasing Jim Abbott and thank you Jim Abbott for the Jack Leadley stories !
Jim and Lori are a class act and always have been. He has done the legacy of Jack Leadley proud and continues on with his own.
Inspirational! Thank you Jim!
Gosh I would love one of those and even more I’d love to learn how to make it myself !
This was one of the Coolest things I've watched in a long time, Jim is definitely a Renessance Man and has so much knowledge ! World Needs More Jims !! 🙏🔥🔥
That was wonderful. THANKS JIM!!! ... and Lori! ... Great job, Cody! ... What beautiful, lovely, practical artwork! We are going to have to get Jim to speak a little on the history and traditions of the Adirondack Pack Basket. I would guess the roots go way back? Maybe even so far back that nobody knows for sure? ---- Thanks Again! --- Ralph
What a wonderful video! A true craftsman and outdoorsman with so much passion for what’s around him.
Loved the way his wife described him as well. Nicely done!
What a great video, thanks for putting this out there and letting us see these craftsmen that are true gems that seem to be disappearing in this modern fast world. Keep the great videos coming! Those baskets are really beautiful works of functioning art. Really enjoyed this!
Fabulous documentary. This is some high quality film making. You should be very proud of this and I hope you continue to share stories like this.
We’re pleased you enjoyed it. Yeah, we have a few more in the works. Even another one with Jim.
Wonderfull content!!!
Thanks so much for putting it together!
Great placement of WeatherWool garments in this video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
What an honor and pleasure to witness Jim's Craft. Thanks for sharing some of the secrets of well built baskets Jim Abbott. Thanks to you Cody for catching Jim's story. It is so great when artists get together and pass on the traditions. Time to get pounding and weaving.
What an awesome interview/documentary. A legend captured forever.
Where could someone purchase a basket from Jim?
THANK YOU! Sorry, but Jim's not even taking requests for his baskets. He has a big backlog, but he's not really in the basket-making business anyway. It's done on a personal rather than professional basis.
@@WeatherWool completely understandable. 🙂 I kinda gathered that from the video, which makes it all the better. Every basket hand delivered and probably never travels out of the state. Nevertheless, thanks for capturing this.