Clay Burnette is self-taught in basketry. Drawn to the medium by his natural surroundings, he harvests longleaf pines that grow locally. After persuading a traditional pine needle basketmaker to demonstrate her basic stitches for exposed warp coiling, Burnette honed the process and began to experiment with stitches, organic forms, and materials, creating pieces that are fluid and rhythmic in appearance.

“My work is truly influenced by my environment. I moved to South Carolina from North Georgia, where my native environment consisted of hardwoods and short leaf pine trees. Prior to moving, I taught myself to coil using rope and yarn. After moving to South Carolina, I discovered the longleaf pine that grows in the area and slowly made the transition to the natural native material… My favorite part of the entire process is going into the woods in search of the longest pine needles I can find. Through the years I have discovered that the longest needles grow on the younger trees. I have actually found long leaf pine needles that measure 24 inches in length – a rarity, but quite an adrenalin rush when they are discovered. I grew up on a farm and live in the city, so any opportunity to escape to the countryside is cherished… Traditionally, basketmakers were identified by the indigenous materials they used from their surrounding environment. In the south, we are blessed with a wide variety of basketmaking materials – grasses, vines, hardwoods, pine needles, etc. As we all know, an artist can live anywhere in these times and order materials they use in their craft. However, I derive great pleasure in collecting my own materials. I choose to live in an area that allows me access to my materials.”