Naomi Smith (artist)

Naomi Smith is a First Nations artist, curator and educator known for creating and raising awareness about the history of traditional Indigenous beadwork.

Naomi Smith
Born
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Known forbeadwork artist

Early life

Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Smith is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. One of thousands of Indigenous children removed from their families by the Canadian government during the Sixties Scoop, she was taken from her mother at 8 weeks of age and adopted by a non-Indigenous family.[1][2] Her adoptive family encouraged an exploration of her indigenous roots and she began beading at the age of 7.[3] Smith reconnected with her birth mother, who was also an artist, as an adult and discovered that they shared a passion for beadwork.[2]

Beadwork

Smith was first drawn to beadwork as a child and is a predominantly self-taught artist.[4] Her own work is rooted in traditional practice and incorporates natural materials including sweet grass, birch bark and porcupine quill.[5] She was featured as a First Nations artist at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.[2]

A custodian of traditional beadwork, Smith has collected and exhibited pieces at various museums as a way of educating people about the practice.[1] Smith curated her first show, Spirit Seeds: A Celebration of First Nations Beadwork, at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives in 2014. It featured beadwork from her personal collection of artifacts, including beaded bags and Iroquois smoking caps dating to as early as the mid-1800s, along with contemporary pieces by Smith and fellow Indigenous artists.[2][6] In addition to her beadwork and exhibition work, Smith offers educational workshops focused on traditional Woodlands culture.[5][1]

Smith is the 2018 Folk Artist-in-Residence for the Schneider Haus National Historic Site in Kitchener.[7][3] As part of the residency she has curated the exhibit Baggage - Carrying On Between Two Worlds.[8]

References
  1. Hill, Valerie (6 July 2018). "Indigenous folk artist-in-residence explores bead work of her ancestors". TheRecord.com. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. Nahwegahbow, Barbara (16 November 2015). "Renowned bead work artist now teaching others". anishinabeknews.ca. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  3. "Profile: Schneider Haus Folk-Artist-in-Residence Naomi Smith". Explore Waterloo Region. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  4. Knapp, Millie (18 June 2014). "Spirit Seeds celebrate First Nations beadwork • Arts and Culture • Two Row Times". Two Row Times. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  5. "Artist Naomi Smith teaching Westside SS students Indigenous techniques and traditions". www.ugdsb.ca. Upper Grand District School Board. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  6. Khalil, Nouman (18 June 2014). "PAMA opens new gallery of First Nations beadwork". BramptonGuardian.com. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  7. "2018 Folk Artist-in-Residence". www.schneiderhaus.ca. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  8. "Baggage - Carrying On Between Two Worlds". www.schneiderhaus.ca. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
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