Take, for example, Kristen Dorsey, a fellow American Studies major. Originally from CA, she is currently completing the 5 year dual-degree program with Tufts and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. She's incredibly talented--you can check out her work at neriadesigns.com or purchase pieces at boutiques in Boston and CA--and The Tufts Daily published a profile on her today!
However, in addition to being an accomplished artist, Kristen is also an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation. At Tufts, she applied for and was the recipent of an American Studies Ted Shapiro Award, which enabled her to spend a summer in Oklahoma, researching her tribal heritage and creating jewelry inspired by ancient Southeastern indigenous motifs and materials.
This year, for her American Studies Thesis, she combined her interest in art and Chickasaw identity. She's writing a paper that traces the history of the Chickasaw culture, the development of the Native American Art Movement in the Southwest, and the economic concerns of the Chickasaw Nation today. Kristen has developed a business plan for burgeoning artists within the tribal nation.
She has analyzed ways in which their art could be encouraged, produced, and marketed to global consumers. In detail, she has outlined the phases of apprenticeship and initial investment that will ultimately behoove Chickasaw artists and help to solidify cultural identity
.
Kristen isn't just writing a paper for a graduation requirement; she's genuinely committed to using her background as an artist to foster economic and artistic growth within the Chickasaw Nation. She fully intends to implement her business model upon graduation.
To read more about Kristen:
media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2008/02/14/Weekender/Tufts.Junior.Adorns.Boston.Residents.With.Original.Jewelry-3210234.shtml
To view some of her work:
neriadesigns.com
No comments:
Post a Comment