Sullivan, Maine-based artist Sierra Henries (Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuc) credit her gifted mom, Lisa, and father, flutist Hawk Henries, for uplifting her to dabble in all sorts of artwork kinds and mediums from a younger age. Now, she makes a speciality of birch bark pyrography. “The pyrography or woodburning device is one thing I began utilizing very early on, working with supplies reminiscent of wooden and gourds for a while. Sooner or later, by means of an concept provided by my mother, I attempted burning on birch bark. This bark is a fabric that has been, and continues to be, utilized by Indigenous individuals within the Northern areas world wide. Right here within the Northeast, you will note it superbly embellished by means of an etching method, or stitched collectively right into a basket, or painstakingly usual right into a canoe. Evidently, I’ve continued to create pyrography artworks on birch bark for over 16 years now,” Henries says.
Henries describes her course of for creating her paintings: “I start by sketching my design in pencil on the bark. Then, I make the most of an x-acto knife for any slicing work concerned. Lastly, I burn the design with the pyrography device. All of the work is completed freehand; no rulers or stencils are used.” She provides, “There are different steps to the method which can be essential to acknowledge, like how generally mates and different birch bark artists will present me bark and inform me tales of the bushes it got here from, or the initiatives they had been engaged on with it, and people tales assist nourish my artwork. It’s essential to assemble the bark in a sure manner in order that the tree isn’t harmed.” Although she derives inspiration from many sources, Henries says, “I usually discover myself simply sitting with the piece of bark and letting the traces of what’s going to develop into present themselves. The bark oftentimes has tales of its personal that I couldn’t have considered or predicted. I attempt my finest to permit house for that providing after which see the place it takes me.”
Sierra Henries stands in a subject of Sweetgrass. Photograph by Ta Moko Ormsby.
Henries has labored with quite a lot of universities, museums, and artwork occasions from New England to Louisiana, together with Yale Peabody Museum, Roger Williams College, and the Cultural Survival Bazaars. She is presently taking part in an exhibit referred to as “Boundless,” hosted by the Mead Museum in Amherst, which opens September 14 and runs by means of July 7, 2024. Henries sees her paintings as a option to counteract the persistent misinformation about Indigenous Peoples. “There’s a real lack of data that persists in our society, and it usually manifests in misrepresentation and appropriation of Indigenous cultures and artforms,” she says. “The privatization of lands and legal guidelines surrounding locations like nationwide parks has meant that there’s a direct cutoff from the supplies I take advantage of in my work. People reminiscent of Suzanne Greenlaw (Maliseet) have been doing superb work to regain cultural entry to areas like nationwide parks and permit for the gathering of conventional medicines and supplies.
Digital mirroring of double curve design. Photograph by Sierra Henries.
Equally, Hawk makes use of his flute music and fervour for dialogue to create welcoming and interesting areas for individuals to ask questions and be taught. Bridge constructing alternatives reminiscent of these really feel vitally essential to me as a option to mend the impacts of ignorance.” On taking part within the Cultural Survival Bazaars, Henries says, “The Bazaars have been a few of my favourite occasions to attend. My household and I’ve participated for over 15 years. Fellow distributors have develop into extra like household than mates. The Bazaars supply the chance for Indigenous artwork to be acknowledged as deeply priceless to each the native and broader communities, and for attendees to higher educate themselves on the significance of Indigenous individuals sustaining their cultural practices. In addition they create the house for the general public to assist artists straight by means of gross sales, which helps our companies to thrive.” She continues, “What nourishes me, what fills my effectively of inspiration, it’s the moments the place a pricey pal desires to get one of many designs I’ve created as a tattoo when an Indigenous neighborhood group makes use of my work as their emblem . . . the moments when my artwork and the individuals I really like join are my biggest accomplishments.”
Be taught extra about Sierra Henries’ work at www.sierrahenries.com.
The Cultural Survival Bazaars Are Again! December 14-17, 2023 The Prudential Middle, Boston, MA.
Be taught extra at bazaar.cs.org
High photograph: Birch bark artwork by Sierra Henries. Photograph courtesy of Sierra Henries.
