Preparing for a shop update this week has me in a bit of a frenzy, so much so I forgot it was my turn to post here! I hope you don't mind a little reprise of a previous post about the topic of Bear. It is somewhat timely as I am featuring bears in my update on April 22 (Earth Day).
And now for the post I previously published on the topic of Bear...
Bear is one of the most represented animals in human cultures throughout time, all over the world. There are many meanings and interpretations. I am most drawn to american indian depictions, stories, and songs.
Vintage Ursa Major star map print
Bear is one of my totem animals, and holds the north coordinate on my medicine wheel. Bear represents (for me), a time of healing and meditation, of embracing the dark days of Winter as a precious time to hibernate and reflect inward, in preparation for the renewal of Spring. The long Winter nights - the dreaming time - are a strong component of Bear presence, along with the stars we gaze upon, hinting at a deeper universe.
Bear has been represented in human art for thousands of years. And this includes beads and jewelry. I am focusing primarily on art here, along with a few samples of beads that have been inspired by Bear.
Here is an anisnaabe song: Spirt Bear Song. Not too much to see in this video as the camera is positioned behind the drumming circle. But the song comes through nicely. :) I invite you to find a quiet moment and allow your heart to join in the drumbeat, and let the song sink in.
I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of Bear. How does Bear figure in your own life and work?
I'd love to hear!
I feel as though I am waking up from a long slumbering winter... having been sick since before the holidays (which I recently discovered was mono), I have been mostly in a fog, not getting much done, and when I do manage to accomplish some work, it is not nearly enough. I am starting to feel better (thankfully) and am anxious to return to a concept I have been thinking about and sketching for almost two years: a series I call "Out West" or "Wanderlust", loosely based on musings of exploration and travels to wilderness destinations.
Wanderlust, definition according to Dictionary by Apple, Inc.
I offer here a sampling of "wanderlust"... inspirations and a bit of my own work.
I think that the desire to wander often comes as Winter falls away. As snow and ice give way to running streams and sun on the hills, we come out of hibernation and seek new adventures. That is the spirit I hope to capture in my work.
Lastly, I want to share an old song that is ironically about the beginning of Winter's descent rather than it's departure. However, I find that it beautifully illustrates a facet of Wanderlust...
I'd like to take you on a brief tour of beautiful beadwork by Northeastern American and Canadian Indians. While not exactly jewelry-related, it certainly is all about beads!
Beaded Bags, Wabanaki type, vase or inverted keyhole shape. Glass beads, black velvet fabric, various materials used for the edge binding. The bag in the center is 6.2 inches high by 5.2 inches wide. From Historic Iroquois and Wabanaki Beadwork, by Gerry Biron.
Prior to European settlers arriving to this continent, decorative work was primarily created with porcupine quills, feathers, birchbark, shells, stones, paint, hide, and sinew, to name a few materials. Later, Europeans introduced glass beads, which came to be a highly valued and integral part in subsequent decoration in the Americas. In the Northeast, we find a large variety of floral and woodland-inspired patterns, and a common motif, the "Double Curve".
I will start with a few examples of quill work from the 18th and 19th centuries. Due to the nature of the material, though still highly detailed and intricate, the style of the work tended to be rather geometric, even in the depiction of floral motifs.
Huron Birchbark Cigar Case with Quilled and Porcupine Embroidery featuring Indians in a
canoe while others walk in a forest filled with realistic wildlife. From Bidsquare.
Woodlands Native American Micmac Porcupine Quillworked Birch Bark Box
Anishinaabe outfit, c. 1790, Fort Michilimackinac, Michigan: Birchbark, cotton, linen, wool,
feathers, silk, silver brooches, porcupine quills, horsehair, hide, sinew. From Infinity of Nations,
at the National Museum of the American Indian.
And now on to beadwork. Here we see the explosion of color and free-flowing expression of decorative elements.
Beaded Gloves, found on Pinterest.
A James Bay Cree beaded octopus bag. Beaded
on velvet, with cloth lining and trim, similar
patterns of floral sprays on either side, the tabs
Contemporary beaded dress: “This photo was taken at the FSIN Pow Wow in Saskatoon Saskatchewan.
These ladies in their Ladies Traditional Dance regalia found a some time to catch up and share a moment
witheach other among the huge crowd of dancers.” - CindyLou Photos, from This Beautiful World.
Contemporary artist Rhonda Besaw's peaked cap, a Mi'kmaq style headdress.
This pattern shows a play on the double-curve motif
Mohawk style accessories, by contemporary bead artist Niio Perkins.
Beatufiul little traditional-style purse, by contemporary bead artist Niio Perkins.
The fiddle-head, which hear echoes the double-curve, was a popular motif.
Another little purse by contemporary bead artist Niio Perkins.
I hope you have enjoyed this brief survey of First Nations bead work. It barely scratches the surface, there is much more to explore. For more information, here is a wonderful blog to help you get started:
