Bille Ruth Sudduth is an internationally acclaimed craftswoman whose unique baskets are featured in collections across the world, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, the Mint Museum, The Carter Institute, and many others. She has taught at the top craft schools in the United States, including Penland, Arrowmont, and the John C. Campbell Folk School. Sudduth lived and worked in New Bern for 13 years during the early part of her career, and returned to the area recently. Craven Arts Council’s Gallery Director, Jonathan Burger, interviewed Bille Ruth about her career and journey as an artist recently.
1) I know you were born in Sewanee, Tennessee and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, what made you move to New Bern, NC?
Doug, being a Duke graduate and in the Army at Ft. Bragg, swept his new bride out of Alabama and headed to NC, first to Durham then to New Bern in 1973. He was director of the Neuse Center and I went to work as a school psychologist. Our two sons grew up in New Bern. We remained here for 13 years.
2) You have a masters in social work and worked in that field for more than twenty years. A lot of artists work full time jobs and wonder about the path to becoming a full time artist, can you tell me about what that path looked like for you?
Although I have a MSW, I went to ECU and UNC and obtained my certification as a school psychologist. I took a basketmaking class at Mayland Community College in the summer of 1983 and was smitten. I sold my first basket in a teacher’s lounge at Vanceboro Elementary. After entering the Juried Spring Arts Festival with the Craven Arts Council and winning the Jurors Choice Award, I wanted more time to pursue basket making and one of my careers had to go. I left my professional career as a school psychologist and took a leap of faith. I still had energy and passion and wanted to see if I could make a living as a basket maker. Fortunately, my family was extremely supportive. I have been one of the lucky ones.
3) On the topic of social work, are there any things you learned or experienced in that field that you brought into you artistic practice?
Focus and discipline.
4) You incorporate a lot of mathematical ideas into your work. What sparked your interest in using math into basketry, and how exactly do you incorporate it? Is it part of the visual composition with the colors, or the weaving technique, or something else?
As a school psychologist, I worked with math and statistics, although I hated math in school. I saw the parallels and perpendiculars in baskets, rather than history and function. I intuitively incorporated Fibonacci numbers and sequences in my work before I even knew what it was called. It looked good and had a pleasing rhythm to it. When I am making a basket, it is like I am playing music. You can’t hear it but you can see it.
5) Is there another artist, in basketry or any other field, that inspires you or whose work you admire?
Potter Cynthia Bringle. She is about 10 years older than I am and is still going strong, I hope to be able to say that in another ten years.
6) You’ve really been at the leading edge of contemporary craft coming into the art world. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen since you started, and what your feelings on it? What are your feelings on the contemporary art world?
I don’t distinguish between art and craft. It is all about an object touching your spirit. I see less and less young people learning to do things with their hands. My grandmother said idle hands are the devils workshop.
7) Your resume is full of awards, residencies, and honors. Is there any award, exhibition, or compliment that stands out to you, and why?
1994 when the Smithsonian acquired a basket for their permanent collection. That same year I was named a North Carolina Living Treasure. It doesn’t get any better than that.
I have made over 10,800 baskets and have kept a log of every one who has ever acquired my work. These collectors are now like a huge family with whom I stay in touch. It has always been a compliment to my creativity when they respond to my work.
8) You’ve moved back to New Bern a few years ago, how long were you at Penland and what changes have you seen in New Bern since coming back?
I lived over the ridge from Penland for 24 years. We moved back to New Bern to be near our son and his family in Wilmington and to stop shoveling snow. I like to say we “moved to New Bern”, not back to New Bern. It has changed so much from when we were here in the 70’s and 80’s. New communities have developed and the population has grown. There are a lot of new bridges. It is a quaint and thriving town. The one constant is the vibrant Craven Arts Council.
We lived in New Bern from 1973 to 1986 and never had a hurricane affect us. That has definitely changed.
9) Do you have any advice to someone in the craft or art field on technique, pursing their work, or being an artist?
Follow your passion and have a great support system. No one creates and thrives in a vacuum. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Use it as a learning opportunity. Network with other artists.
10) I know people can find your work at Bank of the Arts and Carolina Creations, where else is your work represented?
My website brsbasket.com and Etsy.com –justabunchofbaskets
We converted our garage into a studio. It is always full of baskets.