Dawn Walden’s cedar baskets are elegant representations of the dualities of life. As a descendent of Ojibway Indians, she upholds tradition by personally collecting and processing her cedar. After she has completed this arduous process, Dawn begins each basket using a traditional, uniform weaving technique. Yet this orderly structure is only visible from the interior of the basket. The exterior surface is defined by a second weave that is entirely random. This arbitrary weave was inspired by the construction process of a birds nest. After discovering that a bird was borrowing her cedar strands as they dried in the sun, she began incorporating this random weave into her work. Walden feels that the combination of these regular and random techniques is an appropriate meditation on the “random order” of life. Dawn Walden’s experiences in the wilderness have educated her on such a delicate balance. However, her beautiful translations of this truth seem to inspire a universal understanding.