SWAIA ARTIST Profile

Amber Waboose

Name
Amber Waboose
Tribe
Batchewana First Nation
Juried Classification(s)
Diverse Arts
Beadwork / Quillwork
2-D

SWAIA Booth History

SFIM25
WIM24
SFIM24
CAT 903

2024 Award History

N/A
Portfolio Example & Artist Statement
Amber Waboose

I have been practicing the art of quillwork for 5 years. I was taught by my language and cultural teacher. I picked up on the art quickly as started harvesting my quills from roadkill porcupines, harvesting my birch bark, and sweetgrass. Every year during appropriate seasons i dedicate weekends and evenings to collecting materials. I dye my quills too, i often use commercial dyes, I wish to learn how to use natural dyes someday. I started with making jewelry now I want to make larger pieces for people to view. I use an awl to poke the holes and I embroider the wet bendable quills through one quill at a time. I create my designs and most pieces I create take 10-40 hours. I want to showcase this form of art and inspire others. I have been incorporating caribou hair tufting in my pieces.This art was a practice of my family but it slowly "died". Now I wish to revitalize it. It was also a practice in my husband's family (ended with his grandparents). We both do quillwork now and teach.

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