Elizabeth James Perry

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.

hand-spun milkweed with natural dyesMilkweed hand-spun with natural dyes, a fiber traditionally used for clothing and pouches throughout North America. 2009.
traditional Eastern Woodlands woven bagThis 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.
Wampanoag eel trapA traditional form of Wampanoag eel trap constructed from ash splints and cedar bark for a maritime arts demonstration. Folklife Festival, Seattle, Washington. 2003.
 
 

Copyright © 2008-2012 Elizabeth James Perry : www.elizabethjamesperry.com