Pacific Weave

WITH JOAN CARRIGAN, BASKET MAKER

SALT SPRING ISLAND, BC

Joan Carrigan is a basket maker and basketry teacher who has lived on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia for over 29 years.

In the summer of 2023, I reached out to Joan with the idea of creating a documentary to capture her passion for basketry. After several weeks of planning, I finally met Joan on Salt Spring Island in early August. Over the next three days, she took me on an unforgettable journey, demonstrating how she sustainably harvests natural materials from various locations around the island and weaves them into beautiful baskets.

As the director, cinematographer, and photographer for this project, I decided to use the Canon Elan 7 paired with a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens to capture photographs of our journey.

Joan Carrigan standing in a verdant field, surrounded by tall green plants, wearing a blue shirt and looking upward with a smile. Salt Spring Island, BC. Shot by Robin Ferand on Fujifilm Superia 200 35mm film.
Apple tree with green apples in a field. Salt Spring Island, BC. Shot by Robin Ferand on Fujifilm Superia 200 35mm film.
Pear tree with ripe pears on branches and green leaves Vancouver Island, BC. Salt Spring Island, BC. Shot by Robin Ferand on Fujifilm Superia 200 35mm film.
Joan Carrigan standing in a garden, holding a tree branch, wearing a light blue shirt and white t-shirt, with green foliage in the background. Salt Spring Island, BC. Shot by Robin Ferand on Fujifilm Superia 200 35mm film.
Freshly harvested lemongrass stalks and leaves
Woman in blue shirt standing in a natural outdoor setting with trees and water in the background.
Two people standing in tall grass near a pond in a nature setting.
Person using a sickle to harvest lemongrass in a field.
Person harvesting plants in a garden, wearing a plaid shirt, surrounded by tall grass.
Person holding a green plant stem and cutting it with a knife outdoors.
Person harvesting lemongrass by hand in a field.
Woman in blue shirt smiling, holding a wooden gate, surrounded by greenery.
Craft room with woven baskets, a tall desk lamp, and red curtains.
Dried and braided raffia fibers on a wooden surface
Person weaving a basket in a craft room with tools and supplies around.
Joan Carrigan weaving with wooden strips indoors, focused expression. Salt Spring Island, BC. Shot by Robin Ferand
Close-up of hands weaving a basket with strips of bark.
Woman weaving basket in workshop with shelves of baskets.
Hanging items on door hooks including baskets, a bundle of garlic, and a leather bag.
Close-up of hands weaving a handmade basket on a wooden table.
Woman weaving a basket in a workshop setting.
Person holding a handcrafted woven basket on a wood table.
Hands weaving a wicker basket.
Person weaving a basket in a crafts workshop
Person holding a woven basket filled with wooden strips on a wooden table.
Interior decor with hanging dried plants and woven baskets in a cozy rustic space.
Close-up of red-handled pliers and several wooden sticks on a wooden table, with a blurred figure in the background.
Woman making a wicker basket in an arts and crafts workspace.
Partially woven basket on wooden table with bundles of wicker.
Close-up of hands braiding strands of dried grass on a wooden table.
Woman weaving a basket at a wooden table, wearing a blue apron, with materials spread out around her.
Person weaving a wicker basket.
Woman inspecting handmade wicker basket in workshop.
A collection of woven baskets and decorative vase with branches on shelves.
Two tall, bare trees with sparse branches against a backdrop of a forest and a lake.
Sunlit trees by a lake with reflections on the water.
Woman in a forest holding a straw hat and standing between tree trunks, smiling, with sunlight filtering through the branches.
Close-up of the peeling bark on a Madrone tree.
Person smiling in a forest setting, surrounded by large trees with curved trunks, holding a straw hat.
Green leafy tree overhanging calm blue water in sunlight. Salt Spring Island. Shot by Robin Ferand.
Tree with smooth reddish bark and green leaves against a blue sky.
Woman sitting on rocks by a lake, holding a straw hat, with a woven basket beside her.
Tree leaning over a lake, surrounded by dry grass and leaves, with blue water in the background.
A stack of balanced stones on a rock in a calm lake, with a forested shoreline in the background.
Woman sitting on a rock by a lake holding a straw hat, with a basket beside her.
Sunset over a lake with silhouettes of hills and calm water.

Gear Used for this Project

    • Canon R5C Cinema Rig (See the detailed rig below)

    • BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro Cinema Rig (See the detailed rig below)

    • Canon Elan 7

    • Canon EF 50mm f/1.4

    • Fujifilm Superia 200

    • Kodak Portra 800

    • Canon R6

    • Sigma Art 24-70 f/2.8 OIS