Page 74 - LIN-Jan-ForWeb

Baskets

ABOUND

usty Holmes was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan
where she remained until she became engaged to
JB Holmes and moved to Maryland. Life being funny
D like it is they ended the engagement and both went
their separate ways. Dusty, an RN, had the opportunity to work in
several states broadening her perspective and life experience. She
enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 29 and served from 1980 to
1984. Her love for nursing and people in general, served her well
as she thrived as an ICU nurse at Tripler Army Medical Center
in Honolulu, Hawaii. After retiring from the military she moved
to Albuquerque, New Mexico continuing her nursing career and
thought that she had found her “forever home,” but then life had
another interesting twist.
She reconnected with JB after a pause of 35 years and found
that they were still “the same” and the spark was reunited, marriage
followed. She retired her nursing cap when she married Dr. JB Holmes, also a
Veteran, and moved to Naples Florida in 2007. With nursing behind her she
found a hobby that became her passion, creative arts.
Dusty began working in stoneware clay in 2008. She maintained a pottery
studio in conjunction with the Bonita Springs Art League for several years. That
is where she met master weaver Georgia Hortin. Georgia had been weaving
pine needles since 1954 and was eager to pass on the almost lost art form. Dusty
studied under Georgia for seven years until Georgia passed away at the age of 99
in 2017.
The Seminole Indians of south Florida made baskets out of pine needles long
before they made pottery. Their baskets were made out of necessity and used for
utilitarian purposes. They would carry water, winnow seeds, dry meats and even
cook in their baskets.
Current day baskets are made to enhance form and function. Dusty has put
a unique twist into making her baskets. She uses a variety of found and or made
objects to enhance her baskets. Each basket is a unique one-of-a-kind piece of
functional art. Dusty weaves pine needles around her hand made pottery pieces,
around vintage jewelry, around pieces of driftwood or animal horn, around sea
shells: the list is endless.
Dusty is an exhibiting member of the Naples ArtCrafters and can be found
selling her baskets the second Saturday of the month, in season, at Cambier Park.
Her baskets are also for sale at MyxnScents at Bayfront and at Made to Inspire
in Boca Grande, Florida. Dusty sits on the Board of Directors of the Naples
ArtCrafters, is a member of the Emeritus Basketeers, the United Arts Council of
Collier County and the Potters Council. Both Dusty and JB are involved in most
Veterans affairs here in Collier, both willing to help when and where needed.
Her website is www.dustyholmes.com.

by Dusty Holmes Pottery & Pine
74 Life in Naples | January 2019