A research professor at Mines Saint-Étienne, this native of Meurthe-et-Moselle has also developed a basketry business. This dual orientation allows him to find balance by sharing his knowledge and expertise with his students, clients, and other trainees.
Four days a week, he teaches and conducts high-level research at the Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering (SMS) center at Mines Saint-Étienne. The rest of the time, on Wednesdays, he dedicates himself to basketry, the art of weaving flexible plant materials to create objects.
After a university career culminating in a PhD in condensed matter physics, complemented by three years of postdoctoral research in Marseille, Patrick settled down and took up his position on the Saint-Étienne campus in 2010: “I teach materials physics and atomic-scale simulation to ICM students, and I’m also involved in many educational projects. I love my job, especially the aspect of transmitting knowledge. .”
The Revelation at a Basket Market
The desire to practice basketry didn’t come out of nowhere, but rather… from a basket. As he explains: ” In 2019, returning from a caving trip with my family, I discovered the existence of a basket market near my home. I decided to go out of curiosity. And there, admiring the artisans’ work, I had a revelation. I want to do what they do, I want to be like them! I signed up that very day for a one-week introductory course with the Brin d’Osier association, which I completed in 2020. .”
One Year of Training in Ardèche
The experience was conclusive. Patrick then conducted a skills assessment. He reviewed his professional background, defined his true values, projected himself forward, and decided to make basketry a complementary professional activity to his work at Mines Saint-Étienne: ” For one year, from 2021 to 2022, one week per month, I trained with Emilie Rouillon, a professional basket weaver, in Ardèche. I learned the technique of weaving wicker, but also the appreciation for a job well done and respect for the raw material and its fragility.”
At the end of this apprenticeship, he obtained a CAP (vocational aptitude certificate) in basketry as an independent candidate in Lyon. The same year, he passed the Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR – accreditation to supervise research) at Jean Monnet University in Saint-Étienne.
At the end of 2022, Patrick launched his self-employment venture, Osier faire: “I am currently 80% dedicated to my research professor activity and 20% to my artisan basket weaver activity. This allows me to work from home, in my conservatory or garden, to create objects ordered by word of mouth or via my website. Baskets, satchels, bread racks, birdhouses, and other decorative items—I set no limits on my creations. I also offer training to the general public, in schools, and I have a workshop project for retirement homes . I enjoy sharing with people from all generations and backgrounds.”
800 Willow Plants Planted by Hand
To make his objects, Patrick uses six varieties of wicker of different colors. He planted 800 plants on land lent by a farmer friend. His production does not yet cover all his raw material needs, as it takes at least two years before the first usable willow shoots can be cut for basketry. To supply himself, he buys 250 kg of wicker per year from a Lorraine wicker grower.
Today, looking back, Patrick does not regret this diversification: “I wouldn’t go back. Balancing my two activities allows me to find the right balance. I enjoy coming to Mines Saint-Étienne as much as staying at home, in my own world, to create useful and durable objects. I encourage anyone who wants to try the entrepreneurial adventure to do so. .”
Contact:
Mines Saint-Étienne: ganster@emse.fr
www.osierfaire.fr and osier.faire@free.fr
EXPRESS CV
- Born January 13, 1977, in Briey (54)
- Resides in Saint-Just-Malmont (43)
- In a relationship, two children
- PhD in Condensed Matter Physics (2004)
- Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (2022)
- CAP in Basketry (2022)
His first creation: a small bread basket with finger holds.
His most beautiful creation: a wicker car made with Marie-Jeanne Guillard for the commune of Saint-Pal-de-Mons. 10 days of work (160 hours of weaving) were needed to create it during the summer of 2023.
