Download the brochure (PDF) - National Museum of the American ...

MARTHA GRADOLF
WINNEBAGO OF NEBRASKA
INDIANA, USA
WEAVER
VISITING ARTIST, 2005
I weave the beauty
and truth of our
many cultures into
webs and I weave
to make my family
proud.
62
The Native Arts Program had a big impact
on me. Having the opportunity to view and
study so many fine examples of Winnebago
textiles in the various museum collections
was an experience that could not have been
accomplished without going through the
NAP program. Holding the bags and examin-
ing the weave structures was a literal view
into the past. Thinking of the people who
created the bags, their families, their day-to-
day lives, and how the bags were used was
a tangible connection to my ancestors.
Primarily, I am a contemporary artist
weaving nontraditional items. I had not
thought of weaving traditional utilitarian
objects until going through the Native Arts
Program. I have added twining and
Thunderbird designs on some of my
recent weavings. These are techniques and
designs of the Woodland bags that I
researched and studied. I will continue to
incorporate the traditional weave structure
and designs, colors, and fibers into my
contemporary weavings. This will keep the
traditional style alive as it moves into a
contemporary form. And in the not-so-
distant future, I hope to add the traditional
Woodland bags to my weaving repertoire.