linguistic beadwork

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I began creating linguistic beadwork – my term, referring to traditional First Nations beadwork into which I bead (usually English) words – in my multimedia installation the most beautiful things (2003). I beaded the affirmation ‘the most beautiful things are now happenening to us’ four times in the four colors of the medicine wheel, creating a 20 foot long beaded banner that encircles and is illuminated by four video monitors (learn more about ‘beautiful things’ here).

Soon afterwards (in 2004) I began the ‘word’ pieces; beaded chokers and bracelets with single words beaded into them. Some of these pieces are gestures of decolonization, their carefully beaded words being ones commonly used as derogatory terms for Native people, but now recontextualized to be worn with pride. I’ve also created a choker with the word/phrase ‘She speaks inspired by Spirit’ written in Plains Cree syllabics. This phrase is also the title a photo-based collage self-portrait that is one of four images that make up my online interactive piece The Response-Hive City.

Wordplay, affirmations, urban tags &/or incorporation/contrasting of Plains Cree & English language has been a foundational element throughout my practice in contexts of cultural continuance & addressing & expressing dynamics of colonial history. Related series & artworks are:

antler series

natura directus et delectabilis series

Affirm/Nation series

Between the Lines series

10,000 years 1998

bling bling antler (1 & 2)

the earth & myself 1992

red breath 1993

tender trading tipi 1993

gatherings series

spirit walls