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.

 
 
 

CroweQuill Creations - Reanna Crowe

/

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy

MEDIUM: Jewelry, Quillwork

ARTIST STATEMENT
I am Reanna, a proud member of the Passamaquoddy tribe from Maine. I specialize in creating unique and beautiful jewelry using traditional materials such as porcupine quills and birch bark. Each piece is handcrafted with care, reflecting the rich heritage and artistry of my culture. I invite you to explore my collection and discover the beauty of Passamaquoddy craftsmanship.

 

CONNECT WITH REANNA

 
 
 
 
 

Alexandra Francis

/

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot

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.

 

Connect with Alexandra

 

Sierra Henries

/

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck

MEDIUM: Pyrography, Birchbark

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Sierra Autumn Henries has been a multimedia artist for over thirty years and is a member of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck (MA) living at the intersection of Passamaquoddy and Penobscot homelands. She and her family care for land and their home in a place that rests at the feet of both Schoodic and Black mountains, and sits alongside Flanders stream, which flows only a short distance to the ocean waters of Flanders Bay.

Consisting primarily of pyrography and birch bark, her art endeavors to honor the beauty of natural color and form while incorporating line work that lives harmoniously with the material. Her Eastern Woodlands culture plays a role in all aspects of her artistic process - from mindset and approach while gathering bark, to the creation and completion of a design. Each piece is meticulously cut, sketched, and burned free-hand, no stencils are used. Every piece of art is unique and comes into being with their own story.

Through intentional process and a reflection of her relationship with land and community (both human and otherwise), Sierra hopes that her art will foster conversation and connection with nature, as well as sparking an interest in others to explore their own creative-self expression.

Her parents are Lisa and Hawk (flutemaker), her sister is Sequan, and her grandparents are Jayne, and Donald who journeyed 2023; Carol, and Little Crow who journeyed 2012; and Theresa Coates.

 

Connect with Sierra

 
 
 
 
 

Navaquoddy Crafts - Sanora Isaac and Wilfred Neptune Sr.

/

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy and Navajo

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

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.

 
 
 

David Lonebear Sanipass

/

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Mi’kmaq

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.

 

Connect with David