Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Thomas, Sam |
Notes |
Sam Thomas Lower Cayuga Sam is Lower Cayuga and resides in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Largely self-taught, he is heralded by many for his contributions to the appreciation and continuation of the raised beadwork tradition. His first experience in the arts was with leather. His investigations in beadwork grew out of a desire to more fully ornament his creations. In 1977, together with his mother, Lorna Hill, he began researching 18th and 19th Century Haudenosaunee techniques and patterns in museums and private collections with an eye toward documenting and bringing these forms back into artistic circulation. His expressions are derived from a combination of Tuscarora and Mohawk elements individualized by his own creative vocabulary. Sam credits Juliette Meness-Ferguson, an artisan known for her moccasin and smoked hide work; Mohawk beadworker Faith Dubuc from Tuscarora; and curator Trudy Nicks from the Royal Ontario Museum as instrumental mentors in the expansion of his knowledge. In the 1990s he and Lorna introduced embossed beadwork techniques to the Oneida Nation Wisconsin. Today, Oneida Wisconsin maintains an active group of raised beadworkers including Loretta Webster and Karen Ann Hoffman. Between he and Lorna, Sam estimates the pair produced over 25,000 pieces of beadwork including small cushions, needle cases, hair barrettes, purses, jewelry boxes before her passing. The result of 40 years of dedication to his art has provided numerous opportunities to push the conventional boundaries of his medium including projects across the globe. He has conceived and orchestrated numerous collaborations including Ska-ni-kwat, a series of workshops that involved 200 native and non-native participants in the production of two traditional outfits. Ska-ni-kwat (We Are of One Mind) formed the foundation of a long-running traveling exhibit. In 2007 Sam gathered a group of artists from Kenya for the production of a 6-foot beaded Tree of Peace. In 2016, he organized Opening the Doors to Dialogue, hosting 42 sessions and initiating participation from 120 residential school survivors from across Canada. Sam also spent two years traveling to ancient sacred and spiritual settings in Europe, Africa, and Central America, a journey that concluded at Niagara Falls. The project, titled Power of Place - Strength of Being (2010), culminated in six new pieces inspired by these extraordinary landscapes and incorporated materials as diverse and distinctive of their locations as papyrus, 14K gold beads, amber, and mother of pearl. Sam's work is in the permanent collections of numerous facilities including the New York State Museum, Smithsonian Institution, British Museum, Canadian Museum of History, Royal Ontario Museum. He has earned award recognition throughout his career including the Ontario Arts Council's Aboriginal Arts Award in 2016. *Bio text cannot be used in print or web publications without IIM permission. Use for other purposes (such as research papers, presentations) should credit the IIM. |
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06:06 - Cushion
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96:38 - Box
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