Gerald “Butch” Jacobs (Artist Profile)

Gerald “Butch” Jacobs, Passamaquoddy, learned basketmaking from his grandmother Angela Barnes, a member of the renowned Neptune family of basketmakers.

Angela was known for her fancy baskets, and taught Butch how to make her signature forms. Butch bases his baskets on the styles that he learned from his grandmother: acorns, comb baskets, drum baskets and miniatures. Jacobs also makes work baskets, such as pack, market and waste baskets.

One of the few basketmakers who still harvests brown ash, Butch pounds logs to produce splints and then prepares the ash for weaving. He is passing on these traditions to his son.

In addition to baskets, Jacobs has recently started making wooden items from tree deadfall. Look for his beautiful cutting boards, boxes and spoons at the Wabanaki Winter Market at the Hudson Museum.

For more information: click here for more information about Butch’s work.

Gallery: Gerald “Butch” Jacobs (Artist Profile)

Upcoming 2026 Wabanaki Winter Market (Saturday, December 12, 2026):

Organized by the Hudson Museum, the Wabanaki Winter Market is New England’s largest holiday gathering of Wabanaki artists. The annual December event features award-winning Wabanaki weavers as well as new artists representing the next generation of artists.

The 2026 Wabanaki Winter Market is supported in part by the through the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund.

Location of the event: The (2 Flagstaff Road | 91¸£Àû)

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026 (from 9 am to 3 pm)

Contact: Gretchen Faulkner | Director, Hudson Museum (207.581.1904)

For event updates, please visit: