My grandmother was creativity to her bone, like me, I see now that she felt the need to be constantly busy making something. My aunt Lucy took all that Harkins creativity to a new level, not just making dolls (in a kiln), and stitching elaborate clothing, but also rebuilding her house on the side, sewing, painting, crocheting. She is the woman in our family with extraordinary talent. My dad has his share, of course, and has passed that on to me, my sister and my brother. More than fine artist, I think we were meant to be crafts(wo)men. And I often wonder if it originates from Choctaw roots, craft for survival, carrying on tradition, recording events, crafting art for Gods, for self-ornamentation. I often think the style of art that attracks me speaks to my American Indian gene.
And like Ellen, I too feel a strong bond to the past through photographic images. Imagine what character, look deep into their eyes and estimate who that person really was through the detail of their clothing, shoes, surroundings, car, dogs, flower gardens - "Was this a happy life?"
3 comments:
Kim, I love this post! I think about the line of women we have come from, whether by blood or the ties that connect all women, and am in absolute awe of the strength and abilities that have too often gone unnoticed and unappreciated. While survival and necessity often was the driving force for women's creativity, they so often didn't just settle for the basics....they created things of great beauty!
I can see your Choctaw ancestry in your cheekbones and coloring! My maternal grandpa's grandmother was a Choctaw woman named Charity Gooding. Family legend has it that she, as an infant, survived the Trail of Tears. Don't know how true that is, but I know she is alive in me in many ways.
This is an awesome response to this week's challenge!
hugs,
e
it's amazing how certain talents are inborn and how others are learned. I agree, I believe that a lot of the creative-drive that we have derives from the days of yesteryear when we (women) did such things as create for religious purposes, family memories and survival. My grandmother was a Lakota and I have learned valuable things from her. It's nice to meet other's who have been influenced by their Native American ancestors!!
~XO~ Gabi
I can't lay claim to Native American ancestors (may have them but don't know)but I do know there were some strong women in my family tree. I think of them as the branches (arms) that hold all the leaves (creativity, necessities of life, daily strengths, etc)and hope that my branch will be just as sturdy as theirs.
(I hope this makes sense! I know what I'm trying to say but can't get the words for it)
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