Monika Nickel-Stein

Compulsory Exercises

2000 – 2003


Vocational training at the State School of Basketmaking in Lichtenfels

2004


Examination for the master craftsman’s certificate in basketmaking

seit 2004


Self-employed basketry designer

2004 – 2010

Lecturer at the State School of Basketmaking in Lichtenfels

seit 2006


Member of the Bundesinnungsverband des deutschen Flecht-Handwerks (federal guild of German basketmakers) and of the verein flechtwerk (basketmakers’ association)

2007


Wickerwork lamps nominated for the German Design Award 2007; winner of the design award of the Upper Franconian crapftsmanship 2007

 

Freestyle Exercises

The distance between my workshop and my place of birth is approximately 9,900 miles.
For those who want to check for themselves: Frankenthal, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) – Singkawang (Indonesia).

I weave about 160,000 feet of willow each year. This means, if I put all the willow rods I have ever used in one line, this line would have a length of approximately 268 miles.

I almost became a secondary school teacher – with art as my main subject. Instead, after completing my vocational training, I became a lecturer at the State School of Basketmaking: Pupils, you are not getting off that easily…

Although I work with willow every day, I am still amazed by how versatile willow really is.

When I’m thinking, a deep furrow forms, as is the case with many people. However, unlike most people’s, mine does not form on my brow but on the side of my mouth.