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Karen grew up in Texas and currently resides in Garland, TX. She learned about Cherokee culture and art through her mother, Martha Berry, who revived the tradition of Cherokee Beadwork. She fell in love with gourd art through her history of wood working and painting. This medium was a natural progression, combining these talents. She incorporates pre-European contact and modern Cherokee designs into her work.
She began fingerweaving in 2012 in the style typically done by Southeastern Woodland tribes during the 18th century. She, along with other weavers, has helped lead a revival of this traditional style within the Cherokee Nation. Additionally she has revived the practice of creating bandolier bags using this technique. |
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Awards
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Ebb and Flow - Fingerwoven bag and sash set
Best of Class Textiles, 2019 Cherokee Art Market Fingerwoven Garters First Place Textiles, 2019 Cherokee Holiday Art Show Riverbank - Fingerwoven bag First Place Textiles, 2019 Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center Long-Shot - Fingerwoven necklace with carved gourd pendant Second Place Jewelry, 2019 Trail of Tears Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center Water Is Life - Fingerwoven bag First Place Textiles, 2018 Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center Winter Forest - Fingerwoven sash First Place Textiles, 2018 Cherokee Holiday Art Show Three Worlds - Fingerwoven sash Judge's Choice, 2017 Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center Third Place Traditional Textiles, 2017 Cherokee Art Market Jacobite Groom - Fingerwoven sash First Place Textiles, 2016 Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center Third Place Contemporary Textiles, 2016 Cherokee Art Market #Traditions - Fingerwoven sash First Place Textiles and Weaving, 2016 Cherokee Holiday Art Show Light On the Water - Gourd carving Best of Division Contemporary Diverse Arts, 2015 Cherokee Art Market Woodland Snowfall - Fingerwoven bag Third Place Traditional Textiles, 2015 Cherokee Art Market The Diplomat - Fingerwoven sash Judge's Choice Textiles, 2015 Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center The Guardian - Gourd carving Third Place Emerging Artist Category, 2015 Trail of Tears Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center Red Garters - Fingerwoven knee bands Third Place Traditional Textiles, 2014 Cherokee Art Market Starlit River - Carved powder horn and fingerwoven strap First Place Traditional Arts, 2013 Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center Fire Bringer - Gourd carving Honorable Mention Diverse Arts, 2011 Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center |
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Classes and Workshops
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Oblique Fingerweaving
October 2019, Cherokee Heritage Center, Tahlequah, Oklahoma Oblique Fingerweaving April 2017, Cherokee Heritage Center, Tahlequah, Oklahoma Oblique Fingerweaving May 2016, Mahota Studios, Artesian Gallery & Studio, Chickasaw Nation, Sulphur, Oklahoma |
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Research Opportunities
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British Museum Fingerweaving Collection circa 1750 to present
June 2015, British Museum Archives, London, England Gilcrease Fingerweaving Collection circa 1750 to present October 2019, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma |
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