Walking With Our Sisters Tribute

In November I was able to visit a long awaited exhibit that I've been wanting to see.  Ever since reading The Round House by Louise Erdrich  back in 2014 when I stumbled onto information about the murdered and missing Aboriginal women and children across Canada and the northern aspects of the US is when my interest was piqued.  Perhaps it was even sooner than that since when my book club read that novel, I presented several print out sheets regarding the vamp exhibit coming near this area in November 2015 for their knowledge and calendars.
I placed it on my calendar and regardless of the many different options of things to go, do, and be;  I wouldn't change my date.  DH and I saw it on the 7th while it was at Akwesasne First Nation,  Akwasasne Mowawk Territory  from November 6th through November 27th.  The event is traveling and ongoing, here is the schedule.

The exhibit was so tastefully done and done with a reverence to and for all those victimized by the unknown/unproven violence against women and children.  Interestingly, a good friend of mine was working the exhibit while we were there and kindly shared the symbolism and inside tribal knowledge about it.  (Besides of course contributing and making five pairs of vamps for her sister who was murdered at the age of 18 many years ago.)   The one on the right I believe is one of hers.


There were so many styles of vamps and many being respective to the peoples' environments with materials available to them and custom techniques commonly practiced in their communities.  Such artwork!  The symbolism and craftsmanship shown was remarkable.  Many beaded, sewn, colored, embroidery stitched, appliqued, totems attached, leather, silk, canvas, shoes of the infants, and even out of bitten birch bark,  etc....  

No photos were allowed and customs had to be followed to protect visitors from any lingering spirits.
I am so humbled by what I witnessed.  
If it's in your area, please try to attend. It's a once in a life time event.

Writing and posting this in 2016  when I found some time!

Amy Cheng Exhibit and Cooking with KIDS

Not quite Mardi Gras preparations going on here, more like a blend of Holidays from Valentine's Day stretched in towards  St. Patricks but oh well,  they had fun.  This all occurred while school was on their Spring Break.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

Let the Good times Roll......

We all had fun.   Going out, cooking at home, watching Movies, sewing and craft works.  That's what winter vacations are all about!  It was way too cold to allow them to go outside to play with these sub zero temperatures so alternatives were in order.    A certain someone spent hours creating a lot of Perle Bead goodness.

A great assortment and she started running out of colors.  Her younger brother started making a huge heart with rows of color and then it got messed up.  He had enough by that point so went to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, his now favorite TV show.  

Too cute -right?

Circular designs, some were given as Coasters to her family.

We also managed to see an Artist exhibit at a local gallery who did a series of Mandala artworks that was incredible.  Amy Cheng has such talent.  The SUNY college in our area held an exhibit of her works.
Here are just a few photos that I grabbed:

(All photos are clickable to see in a separate window so you can see more details if you wish.)

This first one was my favorite.   Can you imagine working with textiles to emulate her art?

Many of her works offered a transparency to what lay just below the surface and lured your mind in further.

this one gave the illusions of Pearls setting on canvas in a three dimensional effect.
 Absolutely mind blowing! 

With all of these dots it reminds me of George Seurat's art.

 Imagine painting the above canvas with all of those dots.
There were hundreds of thousands perhaps millions on this painting alone.

This looked like a technique of scratching off color in a certain
area to show what's hidden under neath all that color but truly a mastered art.  

It was a beautiful exhibit and one I am grateful to have witnessed.  Thank you Amy Cheng.