|
|
I am the wife of a very supportive Husband, a mother of two wonderful Sons and a niece to a pleasant Uncle whom decided to accept my offer to live with my family and me after the death of my mother.
Ever since I was little my mother would teach my brother and I arts & crafts. My brother inherited her artistic ability to draw and much latter in my life I realized that I must have inherited her artistic ability to create. She would teach me how to sew by making clothes for my dolls. We both loved dolls. My mother exposed us to creating models/figures out of dough at a very young age. I believe it was during this time that she saw something in me that I didn’t see. As I grew older into my teenage years I drifted away from the dough art. For many years my mother would continue to try to encourage me to continue with my crafts. However, during High School I was pre-occupied with Cheerleading, Gymnastics and my friends.
About five years ago I felt this strong urge to get back into creating dough crafts and making dolls. Needless to say my mother was very happy, however she didn’t know that I was able to make clothe dolls. I’d had the materials for the dolls packed away in containers for about two years. One night after I realized that I was able to create better dough art than before (after many years without practice), I decided to take some material out and make a doll. I was surprised and very pleased. I will never forget my mother’s excitement over the first Native American doll I had created. That moment became a new beginning for me. It was truly an honor to have my mother compliment my creations and to begin to think of me as an Artist. She would always tell me that I was good at making things (because I used to complain about not being able to draw). I was always fascinated by my mother’s artwork. Her artistic ability was truly amazing. She truly loved being an Artist and she was extremely talented and gifted. I would also like to mention that my brother seemed to be surprised at my creativity. He has been very supportive with new ideas. Actually now that I’m thinking about it, my creations must have surprised a lot of my friends, neighbors and extended family, yep even my Husband and Sons were all complimentary. That was a good feeling.
Since my mother’s crossing over in August 2002, I have had a very difficult time with getting enough energy and strength to continue my creations. Every time I look at them I think of her. As the days go on I find a little more strength and a little more energy to continue my creations. My mother had so many wonderful ideas for my creations and just as I was getting into it by having productive sales at Powwows and receiving positive feedback from Craft Stores and both of us becoming members of the IACA (Indian Arts & Crafts Association), she left me. I know that she would want my Brother and I to continue our creative ability and carry on the Legacy of her and her father and with God’s strength and guidance that’s what we will do.
Copyright
© 2006-2007 Algonquin Indian Arts & Culture Association, |
