Panelists | Performers | Market Artists
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Sierra Henries
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck
MEDIUM: Pyrography, Birchbark
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Sierra Henries has been drawing and experimenting with many different materials and visual mediums since she was young, but she has always been especially inspired by designs, colors, and shapes in the natural world. Her Nipmuc heritage and her family's involvement with the native community have shaped her desire to express Eastern Woodlands traditional art forms in her own unique way. Through a combination of both these loves, she eventually became interested in working with birch bark, a material that is utilized by many Native Peoples across the world. She gathers her own birch bark from the lush forests around her home. After deciding which part of the bark is best suited for her new creation, she uses a pencil to draw a freehand sketch of what will later be burned into the bark with a pyrography tool. Not only have these trees given her the perfect medium to rest her art on, but they have also given her the opportunity to travel to many a wonderful place. Such amazing experiences have been part of her life, and she is grateful that her art has brought her many of them. Her work continues to be inspired by nature and the people around her.
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Navaquoddy Crafts - Sanora Isaac and Wilfred Neptune Sr.
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Navajo Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe
MEDIUM: Beadwork, Jewelry
ARTIST STATEMENT
Wilfred J. Neptune Sr., Passamaquoddy from Pleasant Point, Maine, a descendant of the hereditary Chief Neptunes. Sanora Isaac, Navajo from Arizona, comes from a line of artist/educator.
Our crafts originate from our cultural upbringing of Navajo and Passamaquoddy backgrounds. Together, we create a combination of unique, genuine handmade jewelry of beaded earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings with semi-precious/shell/stones using our natural materials from local nature byproduct and resources. Antler necklaces with seed beads, peyote stitched on leather and War Clubs from Maine rocks & wood handles. Dreamcatchers made from Maine red willow with sinew & feather.
The greatest form of crafting is remembering the tool given to us to express and create by our parents, our ancestors.
Kat Nelson
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot Indian Nation
MEDIUM: Jewelry, Beadwork
BIOGRAPHY
Kat studied in several dimensions at the Institute of American Indian arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico and upon graduating focused on silversmithing, she continued to work in silver until a serious accident made it too difficult to tolerate the strenuousness of the application. Now faced with a life-changing decision, she decided to move back to Maine and eventually settled on Indian Island, where she now resides. During her recuperation Kat considered various mediums to express herself and decided on working with sweetgrass and beadwork.
Being on Indian island brought Kat into contact with Elder artisans who were instrumental in her development of these new mediums. She studied the traditional methods of sweetgrass artistry under Charlene Francis and benefited from the mentorship of Barbara D. Francis. Having survived a near death experience Kat is once again able to create artwork in appreciation of life. She now works daily on various applications creating jewelry, adorning clothing articles with beadwork, and creating miniature articles of sweetgrass.
Josh Carter
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
MEDIUM: Jewelry
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am the son of Joseph Carter III and Nancy Bonin. I am of Pequot, Narragansett, African American and Irish decent. I am happily married to my best friend, we have four beautiful amazing children and recently received the precious gift of our first granddaughter. I am currently the Executive Director of our Tribal community’s very own Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. I am head over heels in love with the traditional art of wampum. I really enjoy the conversations around its traditional use, the Pequot’s relationship to the ocean and to address the perpetuated fallacy that wampum traditionally was money. I was fortunate enough to establish a strong relationship with the most talented wampum maker known in modern times, Allen Hazard (Narragansett). I am forever indebted to him for his gifts of wisdom and patience that transcends wampum making. I will continue to honor my ancestors, Allen and my family by teaching all those in my community who would like to learn. I feel blessed to carry on this most beautiful ancient tradition.
David Lonebear Sanipass
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Mi'kmaq Nation
MEDIUM: Painting; Jewelry; Woodwork
ARTIST STATEMENT
My name is David Lonebear Sanipass, I grew up in northern Maine. I am from the Mi’kmaq Nation. I am a carver, make flutes, I paint and sketch. As an artist you want to be able to represent your art. I find the best way is to be able to talk about what it means. Some of what I do is so intricate you’re not really looking at what it means. The representation has been lost through interpretation. Part of the beauty isn't appreciated because it doesn’t speak to you. We have found a way for my art to speak with you, to come from my spirit, so it can be better appreciated and you will know more where I am coming from.
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Andrea Hunter
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Eel Ground
MEDIUM: Painted Cedar Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
Kwè
My name is Andrea Hunter. I a Mi’kmaq Artist from Natoaganeg First Nation (Eel Ground). I currently reside in Connecticut with my family amongst our Algonquin sister tribes. As an artist I create hand painted cedar art using traditional and modern day designs in my work. As well as inlay style work into cedar art as well using materials such as crushed wampum shell and crushed stones. Using our people’s designs and bringing them to life using one of our four sacred medicines allows me to pass on traditions to our people and share my art for generations to come. Wela’lin
Alexandra Francis
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot Indian Nation
MEDIUM: Jewelry, Beadwork
BIOGRAPHY
Alexandra (Neptune) Francis is a Peskotomuhkat (fisher clan) naka Panawapskewi (eel clan) citizen, mother, and artist. Growing up at Sipayik, learning basic beadwork at an early age, the seeds of cultural expression were planted.
Alex ventured into 2D art while in high school and university and continues to use skills acquired as a basis for all creation. In 2019, she revisited beadwork and has continued to actively create contemporary and traditional art.
Presently residing in Panawapskek territory, as a Wabanaki Traditional Arts mentor, Alex actively shares knowledge with others with the aim of continuity for cultural art forms. The vitality of our culture lies in the passing on of all the aspects of what makes us who we are- passing on the gifts of our ancestors.
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Gal Frey
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy Tribe
MEDIUM: Basketry - Ash
ARTIST STATEMENT
Gal Frey (Passamaquoddy) makes ash sweetgrass baskets and beadwork. She is from Passamaquoddy reservation in Indian township. She grew up in a basket making family and joined the family in making utility baskets as a weaver. As an adult she apprenticed with Sylvia Gabriel through the basket makers alliance learning to process material and the finer points of basketry.
