“Seeds of Tradition: Expressions of Beadwork in Contemporary First American Art”

Oklahoma City, Okla.— An exciting new exhibition focusing on the intricacies of beadwork in First American art opens at Exhibit C Gallery in Oklahoma City on March 1, 2024. 

Showcasing age old craftsmanship and modern imagination, “Seeds of Tradition: Expressions of Beadwork in Contemporary First American Art” explores various ways beadwork is used as adornment, storytelling and tradition-keeping. An enduring and deeply cultural artform, beadwork continues to resonate today as an iconic symbol of indigenous identity and artistry.

The exhibit will feature artwork by Andrea Day (Muscogee), Yonavea Hawkins (Caddo), Valerie Kagan (Cherokee) and Lynn Traylor (Navajo).

Andrea Day

Andrea Day is an Oklahoma-based mixed media artist who uses acrylic and hand-sewn beadwork on canvas to create original designs. Her designs are influenced by her Mvskoke (Muscogee) heritage and language, Fuswalgi (Bird Clan) and ancient Southeastern Woodland designs, all while guided by nature.

Day grew up in Edmond, Okla., and then spent time in Pennsylvania and in New York before returning to Oklahoma in 2022. While in New York, Day was a performing artist who thrilled audiences with her instrumental performances, which incorporated improvisation and choreography. Her affinity for the world of fine arts and deep understanding and appreciation of her First American heritage led to a wide range of collaborative, interdisciplinary projects.

“When I say I’m traditional Mvskoke gone modern with a twist of NYC,” said Day, “I believe my visual art embodies that experience using an evolving medium that is uniquely my own. My journey and personal experiences and statements go into creating the designs and ultimately finishing the work with signature style.”

After focusing on her music and performance arts for several years and giving birth to her daughter, she taught herself how to sew beads onto canvas incorporating acrylic paint as a new focus in the evolution of her art.

“Inspiration for my work comes from my life and collaborations in New York City,” said Day, “and a propensity to always be creating something new, interesting, and relevant.”

Yonavea Hawkins

Yonavea Hawkins is a Caddo artist who works in a variety of mediums including beadwork, drawing, painting and twill basketry. She learned to sew and bead cultural items for herself and her family. Whether doing loom work or two-needle appliqué beadwork, her designs are a combination of traditional and contemporary using cut beads.

“My work is a combination of contemporary and traditional because of the materials used and the design elements to the construction of the finished work,” said Hawkins. It is “contemporary because of the use of the current Charlotte bead colors and today’s materials to bead on. Traditional, when I find the materials online to buy as I am an urban Native American without access to harvest and collect traditional materials once used.”

Hawkins has been drawing and painting since grade school and has a Fine Arts degree from Oklahoma City University. She has exhibited her art in several galleries in both Oklahoma and Texas, as well as many art markets. Her most recent accolade was received in 2023 as she was an Honored One, a prestigious award from Red Earth Festival recognizing outstanding First American artists who have made significant contributions to the world of art and their respective communities.

Hawkins has also participated in many cultural presentations, beadwork demonstrations and beading workshops throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana.

Valerie Kagan

Valerie Kagan is a U.S. Army veteran, a mom, a wife and an artist who creates traditional Cherokee beadwork and art from a variety of distinct mediums, including metal, wire, shell, vintage Czech beads, wool, silk and pearls. Her specialty medium is two-point needle appliqué beadwork and handwoven and twined textiles.

She began creating beadwork and jewelry at the age of seven when her passion for beadwork was sparked by her brother as he learned to bead on a loom.

“While other children played at recess, you would find me sitting on a bench stringing beads for necklaces and bracelets,” said Kagan.

Kagan said her art is inspired by mound builder iconography, abstract floral designs on antique beadwork of the five tribes and how those designs reflect their ceremonies and what they treasure most in their culture even well into present times. She uses the iconography from those antiques to build beaded art with stroud cloth and beads that are well over 100 years old.

“I always use symbolism of our culture,” said Kagan, “medicine plants, stories passed down from our ancestors, iconography referencing wind, water, fire or our clans.”

One of Kagan’s pieces holds special value to her. She created a bandolier bag that she named “Gatiyo,” the Cherokee word for Stompground. On the straps are medicinal plants and shapes that mimic stomp dance movements.

“On the pouch was a symbol that represents our sacred fire and a cardinal, a redbird that represents Redbird Smith,” said Kagan. “He was the chief of the Redbird Stomp Ground who was credited with bringing our fire to Oklahoma from back east (our fire pre-removal) and perpetuating our stomp dance culture.”

Lynn Traylor

Lynn Traylor is an interdisciplinary Navajo fashion artist known for her detail and intricate patterns on contemporary fashion garments, specifically wearable art beadwork. She explores themes of traditional storytelling, feminine energy, masculine energy, resilience, love and loss, as well as the complexities of historic and contemporary indigenous experiences across beading, fashion and installation.

Traylor learned to bead from her father, Edward Mark, who taught her to loom and peyote stitch. As her art evolved, she began to flat bead and used her beading as a creative outlet.

She creates each piece with hozhó (balance and beauty) thoughts and good intentions. She sketches her ideas before creating her pieces and colors come together after she sketches. After each piece is created, it is blessed with cedar and ready to wear.

“Each piece I create has a purpose,” said Traylor. “I spend a great deal of time on my pieces and so they carry stories with them and names. They come to life which is why I bless each piece (with cedar) before they go to their new homes and/or owners.”

Traylor’s beadwork has been exhibited at the Santa Fe Indian Market and Heard Indian Market, and featured in the Navajo Nation Fair Magazine, Indian Country Today and Shout Out AZ. Her work has been featured on the runway with Kayla Lookinghorse, Winston Paul and The Original Landlords.

View “Seeds of Tradition” at Exhibit C Gallery in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown District from March 1 to June 30, 2024. For more information, visit www.exhibitcgallery.com.