Artist's Biography

Artist Elizabeth James Perry
(photo courtesy of Jeanette Vanderhoop)

Elizabeth shares her knowledge of coastal Algonquian culture through writing and exhibit design in Massachusetts; she has recounted her families whaling history for the radio program The Telling Takes Us Home.

Depictions of marine mammals in shell, leather and yarn are central to her year-long project supported by the Evergreen Longhouse's Creative Development Initiative.

The artist was commissioned to design a purple wampum bias collar for Native Voices: New England Tribal Families, a new exhibit at the Boston Children's Museum, January-September 2012. Native Peoples magazine featured the artist in their 2011 Nov/Dec article "Wampum Jewelry: Power of Purple".

Elizabeth attended the Rhode Island School of Design and holds a degree in Marine Biology.

Milkweed hand-spun with natural dyes, a fiber traditionally used for clothing and pouches throughout North America. 2009.

This traditional Eastern Woodlands envelope bag is hand woven using the twining technique from naturally-dyed, organic 2-ply hemp yarn. The title is: Thunderbird Over Red Earth, named for the reflection of the warm, coppery-red light reflected at wintertime sunrise off the cedars in front of my house. First place award in Division G. Textiles, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Art Market 2010.

A traditional form of Wampanoag eel trap constructed from ash splints and cedar bark for a maritime arts demonstration. Folklife Festival, Seattle, Washington. 2003.