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Artist: Cristina Danforth
(Oneida) |
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Oneida artist, Cristina (Tina) Danforth, has been beading and sewing for over 40 years.
My creativity and artist expression has come from my maternal aunts and family. I have always admired my Aunt Mary Prescott’s work as a painter. At the age of 13, I began beading after my mother, Connie (Webster) Delgado died. My mother designed a traditional Oneida skirt and leggings for my oldest sister Laura. Laura presented the wool skirt and leggings to me and said if you bead this you can have it. So I asked my Aunt Debbie Cornelius to show me how to bead. Over the years, I have been self-taught by studying old Iroquois beadwork. I would take it apart and reconstruct new pieces I also learned to do flat work, applique, peyote and lazy stitch. I have sat with friends and other bead artist over the years and enjoyed sharing techniques and stories about life and art. In 2010 I spent time with Rose Mary Hill on the Tuscarora reservation in New York. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her. I was referred to her by Tuscarora bead artist Grant Jonathan. His work has been inspiring as well. While working with Rose Mary she said to me why are you here? You already know how to bead! We both laughed.
My interest in dancing, powwows, ceremony and social dance continued to feed my interest. I’ve held fashion shows over the years and show cased both traditional and contemporary clothing, accessories and jewelry. I’ve always enjoyed art and different mediums in relationship to my culture.
My artistic journey has helped me create functional art, aesthetic pieces and has been a part of my healing. I have been fortunate to share my creative interest and talent with my daughter Connie Danforth. She became interested in beading when she was 10 years old. I would start her on a project and she would work on it for a little while, then go play and take a break. She always came back and by the time she was 17 years old she had mastered the beading techniques to complete her own dance regalia. Today we both collaborate on projects and commissioned work. I am hopeful that my grandchildren will eventually take up the tradition and artistic mediums of sewing, drawing, beading, painting and being creative.
Most recently I had an opportunity to sit with my Aunt Mary for a painting lesson. We painted corn husk dolls. It was so esoteric and I will cherish that time with her for many years. My granddaughter, grandson and niece also joined us.
I am thankful for my teachers, my life experiences, my family and the many creative opportunities I have enjoyed over the years. My work has been displayed in the Oneida Museum and received award recognition from both the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market in Phoenix and the Woodland Indian Art Market in Oneida.
My creativity and artist expression has come from my maternal aunts and family. I have always admired my Aunt Mary Prescott’s work as a painter. At the age of 13, I began beading after my mother, Connie (Webster) Delgado died. My mother designed a traditional Oneida skirt and leggings for my oldest sister Laura. Laura presented the wool skirt and leggings to me and said if you bead this you can have it. So I asked my Aunt Debbie Cornelius to show me how to bead. Over the years, I have been self-taught by studying old Iroquois beadwork. I would take it apart and reconstruct new pieces I also learned to do flat work, applique, peyote and lazy stitch. I have sat with friends and other bead artist over the years and enjoyed sharing techniques and stories about life and art. In 2010 I spent time with Rose Mary Hill on the Tuscarora reservation in New York. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her. I was referred to her by Tuscarora bead artist Grant Jonathan. His work has been inspiring as well. While working with Rose Mary she said to me why are you here? You already know how to bead! We both laughed.
My interest in dancing, powwows, ceremony and social dance continued to feed my interest. I’ve held fashion shows over the years and show cased both traditional and contemporary clothing, accessories and jewelry. I’ve always enjoyed art and different mediums in relationship to my culture.
My artistic journey has helped me create functional art, aesthetic pieces and has been a part of my healing. I have been fortunate to share my creative interest and talent with my daughter Connie Danforth. She became interested in beading when she was 10 years old. I would start her on a project and she would work on it for a little while, then go play and take a break. She always came back and by the time she was 17 years old she had mastered the beading techniques to complete her own dance regalia. Today we both collaborate on projects and commissioned work. I am hopeful that my grandchildren will eventually take up the tradition and artistic mediums of sewing, drawing, beading, painting and being creative.
Most recently I had an opportunity to sit with my Aunt Mary for a painting lesson. We painted corn husk dolls. It was so esoteric and I will cherish that time with her for many years. My granddaughter, grandson and niece also joined us.
I am thankful for my teachers, my life experiences, my family and the many creative opportunities I have enjoyed over the years. My work has been displayed in the Oneida Museum and received award recognition from both the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market in Phoenix and the Woodland Indian Art Market in Oneida.
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I thoroughly enjoy working with beautiful beads, and sharing my native experiences with others. I have worked with beads on and off since I was a teenager. I learned because I wanted to adorn my native dress that I wore when I belonged to a traditional native dance troop from Akwesasne in the 1960’s.
I get inspired by the spirit and natural world. I enjoy floral designs, much like my ancestors did. I like to incorporate the natural elements such as porcupine quills, leather, bone, sinew, silver, stones, wood, cotton, and velvet in my work. The most inspiring are the items that I view from our past, so, to recreate them with a contemporary flair.
I volunteered to help native displaced women who temporarily relocate to this area and we get together to bead.
I get inspired by the spirit and natural world. I enjoy floral designs, much like my ancestors did. I like to incorporate the natural elements such as porcupine quills, leather, bone, sinew, silver, stones, wood, cotton, and velvet in my work. The most inspiring are the items that I view from our past, so, to recreate them with a contemporary flair.
I volunteered to help native displaced women who temporarily relocate to this area and we get together to bead.
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"My art is a way of expressing my creativity, it is releasing a vision, materializing a thought, or illustrating a moment that epitomizes life. I would like my art to relate my feelings of peace, pride, and gratitude to the viewer. These feelings motivate me to paint. My art is unique because I am self-taught and it is my personal interpretation of my culture and heritage. I use acrylic paint on canvas to create my artwork. My inspiration is the human spirit, and how it is expressed."
- LeeAnne Kalihwiyostha Thompson |
Artist: LeAnne Thompson
(Oneida) Shekoli,
My name is LeAnne Thompson, aka kalihwiyostha. I am Oneida from Green Bay, Wisconsin. I am a self taught artist. Currently the only medium I’m experienced in, is acrylic painting. Painting has been my savior, my therapy, and my livelihood. I cherish and appreciate all that painting has afforded me. The experiences of people and places this gift has given is priceless. In the near future I hope to familiarize myself with oil and watercolor. I would also like to try stone and wood sculpture. You can find me on Facebook, LeAnne Kalihwiyostha Thompson, or check out my gallery of available prints Fine art prints by LeAnne Kalihwiyostha Thompson. |
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