Our study of these traditional arts was made possible with a grant from the Essex County Community Foundation. We hosted classes and events around the construction of a traditional clamming skiff as well as weaving workshops to make the clamming baskets to go with it.
Reviving almost forgotten Essex traditions - Skiff & Basket builds
by SKIFF & BASKET - past PROJECT
Partnering with master basket maker Billy Ray Sims!
Master Basket Maker Billy Ray Sims re-created a traditional Essex Clam Basket for our exhibit and also informed the instruction of basket making workshops in our Waterline Center throughout the summer and fall of 2019. Learn more about his work at billyraysimsbaskets.com.
ARE YOU A CLAMMER OR A BASKET COLLECTOR?
We may have built our skiff and baskets, but there’s still more for us to learn! ESM is looking for contributions from family stories to baskets and photographs. Please get it touch with Chris at 978-768-7541 or chris@essexshipbuilding.org if you have something to share.
Under the guidance and instruction of our staff boatbuilder Jeff Lane, the students from the Topsfield Vocational Academy have completed all aspects of the build of a traditional Essex Clam Skiff from choosing and milling lumber, lofting the design, to actually building the skiff as a team.
2019 marked our third year of our partnership with TVA and in that time students have built other vessels such as a Grand Banks Dory for the Schooner Adventure and helped maintain the Schooner Lewis H. Story.
This project was generously supported by the Essex County Community Foundation.