LOCALadk Magazine

Spring 2016 LOCALadk Magazine 45 LOCALadk In 2000, Coffey moved from city life into the north woods and purchased the last operating glove factory in Northville, which after many years of being his workshop morphed in 2015 to one of the Adirondack's finest galleries. His work has been exhibited in the William Proctor Munson Museum in Uti- ca, N.Y. and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming as well as featured in print, on PBS and galler- ies nationwide. He fashions furniture from metal, stone, and repurposed ma- terials as well as wood, drawing on the diversity of his past accomplishments. I am not reinventing myself," said Coffey. "My designs come from a subtle balance of looking back and looking forward. I am revisiting myself in balance." The William Coffey Gallery is located 322 North 3rd St, in Northville, and features his work as well as the work of eight other artists. Barbara Green, basket weaver Old Forge Website: adirondackgreenhousebasketry.com It could be said that Adirondack heritage is in Barbara Green's blood. The Old Forge resident's great-great-grandfather, Seth Pierce, was an Adirondack guide and "Jack of all trades" in the late 1800's. In the winter months he handcrafted unique piec- es of furniture using the intricate twig work and birch bark accents that so many wood workers do today. A corner cup- board, one of Pierce's original pieces, is on permanent display at The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake. Carrying on in that tradition, the iconic Adirondack Pack Bas- ket is one of Green's best selling baskets. Using Rattan reed, a fast-growing, flexible and strong reed, she has developed a contemporary version of the original ash baskets. She is in- volved in all aspects of production, with her husband making the solid wood interior base and skids for the bottoms. The harnesses are custom made, with sturdy cotton webbing, nick- el steel rivets and buckles. Along with the Pack baskets, Green makes a wide array of oth- er basketry, including an award-winning picnic basket, berry basket, shoppers tote, beautiful oak base bowls, and more. In addition to her website, her work can be found in Old Forge in the gift store at View and at Souvenir Village. Most recently, she exhibited in a show centered on river-related items at the Thousand Islands Art Center in Clayton. She also teaches at some art venues in and outside of the Blue Line, such as View, Abanakee Studios in Indian Lake and the Thousand Islands Art Center. Green commented that the best thing about being a basket weaver in the Adirondacks, is that people 'get it.' We under- stand the culture and the history of living in an Adirondack community," she said.

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