Denise Emerson has been creating traditional Native American art pieces for 41 years. For her, each threaded bead is a memory of her mother. Each beaded square-inch she completes ties her closer to tradition. Lacing her past into tangible artwork is not just a hobby: It is a custom, a passion and, during the winter months, life-sustaining work.
Emerson's art will be among the work of 25 to 30 Native artists for sale at the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation Indian Art Mart in Discovery Park on Sunday, Nov. 2, the first of five this winter.
Emerson began selling her work at the Art Mart in the early 1990s. "It's the first place, besides a powwow, where you can sell your work to people who are interested in Native art," she explained.
A West Seattle resident, Emerson is enrolled with her mother's tribe, Skokomish, although she is also half Navajo. Her being full-blooded American Indian, yet immersed in two cultures, one Southwest and one Northwest, has inspired her beadwork. She uses traditional Skokomish basketry and Navajo rug designs in her beaded necklaces and belt buckles.
Emerson is the eldest of five children and her mother took her everywhere. She has been involved with the American Indian community in Seattle all of her life.
She remembers working at food banks to provide hot lunches to members of local tribes. As a teen in the 1970s she worked with the Seattle Indians Center Youth Program.
Her aunts used to take the children in the family to the Skokomish reservation when school was on break. Here she remembers walking around with a sketchpad, drawing and painting all the time. Art has always been a way for Emerson to express herself, and her heritage has been her inspiration. All of her work has some kind of American Indian influence, either Navajo or Skokomish.
In 1997 she graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in graphic design and now works there as an administrative assistant, selling her artwork on weekends.
"I try to put memories into my work and what I remember my parents taught me, what to do with my work, and what not to do with my work. It gives me a sense of balance. If I didn't bead I don't know what I would do," Emerson explained passionately.
For the last two summers her art has been selected for the In the Spirit exhibit at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. She sells her pieces of original work for between $20 and $150. Her booth at the Art Mart will have necklaces, berets and belt buckles as well as earrings, purses and calendars with photos of her work.
The goal of the Art Mart is to promote local artists and support the Elders Service Program. This helps provide American Indians in Seattle 55 and older with food, social activities and nutrition counseling.
Judy Anderson, manager of the Elders Program, said, "I want them to have a comfortable life. They're older, it's hard. So I wanted to help." The Elders Service Program is a way to guarantee socialization, through arts and crafts, and at least one hearty, healthy meal a day. It is affiliated with the United Indians of all Tribes Foundation.
Anderson also manages the Art Mart. She organizes the artists, who sell all sorts of traditional Native American wares including drums and paintings.
In addition, she sets up the salmon bake. The salmon is prepared outside in a fire pit, the traditional way, as it would be done at a powwow. Anderson tried to prepare it inside once, but there was a huge response to keeping it outside in the customary way.
This November's traditional salmon meal will cost $10 per person, although the price will likely rise to $12 after that. Fry bread ($3) and Indian tacos ($5) will also be available all day.
For more information visit http://unitedindians.org/involved_network.html to get on the mailing list.
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