Kiowa Cradleboard Maker:
The Art and Tradition of Vanessa Jennings BUY NOW  

For hundreds of years, Indian people of many tribes have celebrated and honored the birth of a child by creating cradleboards. Lovingly crafted out of wood and rawhide, often completely covered by beads and other keepsakes, these lavish works link together families and generations. Vanessa Jennings, a Kiowa beadworker and cradleboard maker, is carrying forward this tradition.

Vanessa's awards range from Red Earth's President Award, 1st Place Awards at the Santa Fe Indian Art Market to the 1989-1990 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, which established her as a "Living National Treasure."

This 30 minute program features:
The role cradleboards play in Kiowa tradition
Examples of Vanessa's work
Beautiful close-ups of beadwork and cradleboards
Kiowa cradleboards from the Gilcrease Museum "The cradleboards are the most exquisite piece of sculpture, but beyond that they represent the tremendous love that our people had for each child." - Vanessa Jennings

(30 minutes)   Order No. T142 $19.95

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Ella Mae Blackbear: Cherokee Basketmaker
The life of a traditional Cherokee, known for her native buckbrush baskets, is shown in this tape. Mrs. Blackbear shows her work, from gathering and dyeing buckbrush to selling it at a museum show. The history of the Cherokees and her life in the hills of Northeastern Oklahoma are featured.
(24 minutes)   Order No. T102    $19.95
The Strength of Life: Knokovtee Scott, Creek Shellworker
Knokovtee Scott has revived the ancient art of shellwork and is nationally known for his jewelery. He draws inspiration from the work of the Mississippian Mound culture of a thousand years ago. This video features a visit to Spiro Mound site in Oklahoma and includes excerpts from a traditional Creek Corn Dance.

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(28 minutes)       Order No. T103    $19.95 
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Ribbons of the Osage: Art & Life of Georgeann Robinson
Georgeann Robinson was a traditional artist honored by the Smithsonian for her ribbonwork. This program highlights three generations of her family as they dress in outfits she amde for the annual Elonska ceremonials in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. It gives the history of the Osage and stresses the importance of maintaining traditions for Native people. (28 minutes)   Order No. T101   $19.95