Seneca Artisans Showcased During Opening Event
Repost from Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area FB
Creating Home: Indigenous Roots & Connections in the Appalachian Forest Exhibit
Repost from Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area FB
Our newest interpretive program kicked-off with the opening of our new rotating exhibit “Creating Home: Indigenous Roots and Connections in the Appalachian Forest”. The exhibit will be open to the public May through October at the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center (Darden Mill, 101 Railroad Ave, Elkins, WV). They celebrated with a free Exhibit Opening Event on May 18 featuring a Seneca Artisans Showcase. Artists featured, included:
Penny Miller: Penny is a member of the Seneca Turtle Clan who works in Black ash splint basketry, cornhusk work, graphic art, and watercolor. Learn more about her work at https://penelopeminner.com/ or https://nativerootsartistsguild.com/…/penelope-s-minner/
“My parents were very artistic, traditional craftspeople of their time. My father, Lester Jimerson was a traditional wood carver and mask maker. He made horn rattles and turtle rattles and traditional Seneca headdresses, while my mother, Hazel would make traditional cornhusk dolls, cornhusk mats and salt bottles. They both have works in the Smithsonian Institute collections.
Traditional arts and crafts were commonplace in our household. I learned much from watching them. I also learned a lot about basket making from the cousin, Midge Dean Stock. I feel that through my talents I am able to share their spirit with others to pass on to the next generation and to those who are willing to learn.
Over the last 8 years I have worked within the community to teach black ash splint basket making and cornhusk doll making, though I have been practicing the craft since 1998. The basket making process is time consuming and labor intensive and because of that, many new students find it is not for them. Finding a dedicated student to whom I can pass this along and keep the tradition alive is a true pleasure.
Residing on the Allegany Reservation in Western New York. I have done demonstrations for the Iroquois Indian Museum, the Seneca Nation (various departments), SUNY Fredonia, Fenimore Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian in NYC. In 2019, three of my art pieces were acquired for the National Museum of the American Indians permanent collection, a life long dream.”
Bernadette Scott: Bernadette Scott is Haudenosaunee (Seneca), deer clan from the Cattaraugus Territory in New York. She comes from a family well-known in the community for teaching, sharing, and making traditional Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls, flowers, baskets, and Haudenosaunee social dancing. In addition, she creates traditional braided cornhusk moccasins in various sizes. Cornhusk doll making has been passed down through many generations on her maternal side. For many years, she has been sharing and teaching how to make Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls throughout Turtle Island with her family. Bernadette has been making cornhusk dolls since she was a young girl and learned from her (late) Grandmother, Lillian Kane and mom, Marcy Kane. “I continue to share and teach traditional Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls and flowers to anyone willing to learn, especially the young and elders because I feel it’s my responsibility to carry on what I’ve been taught especially from my Grandma Lillian. I am thankful I can continue to carry on my family’s tradition.”
See more of her work at https://www.wakebegincreate.com/
Cliff Redeye: “Clifford Redeye III is an Onöndowa’ga:’ (Seneca) artist from the Allegany Territory in Western New York. He has a background in pencil drawing and acrylic painting but has specialized in leather work since 2013. Clifford is self-taught and draws his inspiration from personal and Haudenosaunee stories, and from concerns for the natural world. Most of his pieces are produced with vegetable tanned leather but he has also incorporated smoke tanned hides and antler carving into his projects. He uses hand tools such as a swivel knife, rawhide maul and various water and oil based dyes. His pieces are hand carved and constructed. Clifford’s work has been presented at the Onösahgwë:de Cultural Center, The University of Buffalo, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and the Woodland Cultural Center (Ontario, CA). He has also had pieces in various shows including at Ganondogan State Historic Site, The Heard Museum, Santa Fe Indian Market, and the Iroquois Museum.”
Additional Seneca Artisans that participated in the exhibit opening event included Lorinda John, Mary Jacobs, Samantha Jacobs, and Joe Stahlman.
Join us summer and fall 2024 for more Native exhibits and programs across AFNHA. Watch our website at https://www.appalachianforestnha.org/news…/seneca-showcase for more info, or contact us at afnha@afnha.org or 304-636-6182! This program was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation, The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History, and West Virginia Commission on the Arts.
