Bead Medicine: Winter Native Arts at Idyllwild
By Emily Clarke
The Native American Arts Program at Idyllwild Arts Academy hosted its first Winter Workshop series during the beginning of January. The Winter Workshop program was similar to their popular Native Arts Summer Program, but on a smaller scale. Three classes were offered: The Beaded Medallion taught by Jennifer Ben (Navajo), Cahuilla Basketry taught by Rose Ann Hamilton (Cahuilla), and Native American Cuisine taught by Chef Freddie Bitsoie (Navajo). There were around 22 program participants who spent three days on the Idyllwild Arts campus making art, sharing meals, and creating new friendships and cross-cultural connections. The executive director, Shaliyah Ben (Navajo), says she was very proud of the outcome especially because this is the very first round of auxiliary workshops and they were held post-pandemic at that. Being someone who has participated in the Native Arts Program at Idyllwild Arts since I was in a stroller, I was also excited to witness and participate in the growth of the program. I signed up for The Beaded Medallion for the second time and am extremely grateful for the knowledge that was shared with me and for the experience I had.
I first took the medallion class last summer. I had been beading for two years at that point, but was mostly self taught and had never made something as large and daunting as a medallion. Just before the summer class, a big change happened in my life and I arrived at the beading room feeling more or less downhearted. However, after spending a week beading, laughing, and sharing with the group of Native women in the class, I left not only with a new piece of beadwork I was proud of, but also with a new feeling of contentment. I learned how to design a medallion, prepare my materials, and finish my project with a beaded necklace and fringe at the end. Although I knew how to bead already, the techniques I learned in class gave me the ability and confidence to continue making medallions on my own after class ended. Additionally, after spending five days together, the other students and I became close friends and still talk and spend time together often.
Shaliyah Ben’s sister, Jennifer Ben, taught the class both last summer and this winter. Her beading knowledge is wide and eclectic, and her work is often inspired by her relationship with music and her family’s tradition of farming. Although extremely knowledgeable and perhaps one of the most creative bead artists I know, Jennifer is humble, patient, and gives her students the space they need to express themselves through their beadwork. Oftentimes, Jennifer works on her own projects when her students don’t need one-on-one assistance, and being able to watch her process is both helpful and inspiring. Students have a plethora of supplies to choose from ranging from every color of bead you could imagine to sparkling crystals and soft buckskin. Jennifer encourages each student to create whatever they want while also helping to make changes to the design based on each student’s level. Most of all though, Jennifer helps to create a community of beaders who are able to take their newly learned skills and create more beadwork on their own by the end of the class.
During the Winter Auxiliary program at Idyllwild Arts, I worked on my third beaded medallion. My first medallion was made for myself, and even if I wanted to sell it or give it away I don’t think I would be able to due to how much it means to me. However, I spent the three-day workshop making my third medallion as a gift for my best friend’s birthday. He and I met almost nine years ago on the Idyllwild Arts Campus as high school freshmen, so there was no better time to create something special for him. Jennifer Ben is someone who has seen my beadwork evolve and grow, so she brought size 13 beads (two sizes smaller than I normally use) in order to challenge me. Although sometimes throughout the workshop I felt like I was losing my mind trying to bead with some of the tiniest beads I’ve ever seen, I appreciated Jennifer’s thoughtfulness and ended up immensely happy with the outcome of my project.
But my medallion was not the only thing, or even the most important, that I left class with. I also left feeling balanced and fulfilled thanks to the time I spent growing closer with Jennifer and the two other Indigenous women who also took the class. Ever since last summer, The Beaded Medallion class has gained the reputation of being the loudest class on campus. We can be heard laughing from even outside the classroom and have happily accepted our reputation of being joyful, exciting, and according to us, downright hilarious. Just as I had last summer, I arrived at bead class somewhat down. I had been sick for the entire holiday season, stressed over various personal issues, and was having a rough patch in my beading process at home. In fact, I hadn’t beaded anything for weeks. But, as the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. So although I left Idyllwild Arts sleep-deprived from late nights talking and watching movies with Shaliyah, I left feeling healed. Traditionally, Native people gathered together often to share stories, create art, prepare food, and more. The Native American Arts program mirrors this practice and strives to create community through the Indigenous tradition of creating art in a multi-generational space. Furthermore, the beaded medallion class has become a community that grows in size and love each time the workshop is held. I would recommend the upcoming summer Native American Arts program to any tribal person looking to expand their knowledge of cultural arts while also forming connections with other Native people with varying perspectives.
There are scholarships available for Native students as well as opportunities to stay on campus during the program. For more information, visit https://idyllwildarts.org/nativeamericanarts/.
