Mary A. Jackson

Mary Jackson grew up in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina learning basketmaking from her mother beginning at age four. Jackson did not show her baskets to the public until 1982. She quickly became known for her technical mastery and her innovative designs. Not only is Jackson dedicated to her craft, but she is also committed to educating the public about the history of this tradition. More recently, overdevelopment of coastal areas has led to a decline in the availability of sweetgrass, forcing her to go as far as Florida and Georgia to harvest the wild grasses; Jackson has been working with environmentalists and horticulturalists to experiment with cultivating the grasses for herself and for other artists.

Education: Trident Technical College, Charleston, South Carolina