Congratulations Jeremy Frey, ($50,000 grant)

Jeremy Frey received a $50,000 grant from United States Artists (USA) at New York's Lincoln Center on December 7, and was recognized as one of America’s finest artists.

Frey is a celebrated Maine Indian basket maker from Indian Township and a member of the Passamaquoddy community. He was the only artist from Maine to be one of the 50 recipients of 2010. Frey learned the traditional techniques of weaving brown ash and sweetgrass into baskets from his mother and now introduces new styles and techniques such as unique shapes and very fine weaves. Frey currently serves on the board of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance. and is dedicated to strengthening the time-honored Native tradition of hand-weaving utility and decorative baskets.

Chosen for the caliber and impact of their work, the USA Fellows for 2010 were chosen from 18 states and Puerto Rico and represent some of the most innovative and diverse creative talents in the country. Artists include cutting-edge experimenters and traditional practitioners from the fields of architecture and design, crafts and traditional arts, dance, literature, film and media, music, theater arts and visual arts.