|
 KEN
WILLLIAMS JR. -Arapaho/Seneca
I am a beadworker. I was born into this artistic tradition (in
1983) and I have had the benefit of generations worth of knowledge
and experience passed onto me. Beadwork is something I grew up
with. It is both familiar and comforting. For these things I am
very grateful.
I am mostly self-taught; I began observing and experimenting with
beadwork when I was six years old. While residing on my father's
reservation, the Cattaraugus Seneca Indian Territory in western
New York, my older brother Dallin Maybee and I would experiment
with beading and we learned the techniques mostly through trial
and error. I started with basic necklaces and earrings, along with
smaller miniature pouches, which I sold locally to much success.
I continue to work with these types of projects until I was about
13.
As a teenager, I moved to Utah and began to spend more time with
my mother's family at the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.
My family there, the Spoonhunters, have long been regarded as master
beadworkers. Their influence and guidance came at a pivotal point
for me, such that their support and inspiration spurred me to start
bigger projects like dolls, bags, cradleboards, and moccasins.
Both my late uncle Robert Spoonhunter and my aunt Agnes Spoonhunter
Logan were key role models who encouraged me to pursue beadwork
as a serious life endeavor. I resolved to focus on refining my
work - not only as a potential future for myself, but also to reflect
well upon my family's reputation.
In the spring of 2007, I graduated from the Institute of American
Indian Arts (IAIA) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Museum Studies.
During my studies, I took advantage of taking traditional beadwork
classes from my "sister," and instructor, Teri Greeves.
Teri encouraged me to discover my "own" style and in
many ways, she really broke me out of my shell. I newly realized
how my personal contemporary style could interplay with hundreds
of years of traditional beadwork aesthetics. She instilled me with
an added confidence about myself and my work; this confidence came
from recognizing who I am, where I've been, and that my future
is full of new possibilities.
All of this points to my current
work, which manifests a truly modern style that is still firmly
rooted in my traditional upbringing. I have come to focus mostly
on fancy bags of all sizes and shapes, including handbags, shoulder
pouches, and delicate pictorial purses. I strive to have my pieces
tell stories and build memories, not only for myself and my family,
but hopefully, also for those new people who I will will meet
that are attracted to my work. As I look forward towards my future,
I am proud to say that my beadwork will continue to evolve, just
as the traditionsthemselves have doneso before me.
Ken Williams Jr. Born 1983
Tribes: Arapaho / Senaca
* Began beading at the age of 6
* Began showing at the Santa Fe Indian Market in 2003 and at the
Heard Museum in 2006.
* Awards won include Best of Show 2 times at the Utah State Fair,
Best of Division, First, Second, and Third place in numerous divisions,
judges choice, and honorable mention at both Santa Fe and Heard
Indian markets.
* My works is in:
Utah Museum of Natural History, Salt Lake
City
Utah Arts Council Museum, Salt Lake City
*Many private collections nationwide.
* 2 pieces in the collection of Ralph Ted Coe, have been selected
to be donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. |
|
