SpilyayTymqq, Warm Springs, Oregon April 19, 2001
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Beadwork strings together generations
, The image of Nettie Howard smiles enigmatically from her place of
honor in Delcie Scott's living room. She appears pleased at the scene be
low where, in an atmosphere bubbling with creativity, enthusiasm and
good humor, three of her descendants perpetuate the art forms that were
integral to Nettie Howard's world.
Today the medium is beadwork; but the three Scotts - sisters Delcie and
Rose, as well as niece Carmella -. are women for whom a day
without an artistic pursuit is unthinkable. Not surprisingly
the three prefer media that relate to their Indian heritage,
treasuring art forms that have been passed down through
generations. Be it beading, silversmithing or ingenious
new forms of basketry, "the Scotts must create.
Delcie and Rose clearly remember the long-ago day
when Nettie Howard's daughter, Josie McCorkle, opened
her special trunk of "trade goods" and let the girls exam
ine the wonderful beads within. "It was like a treasure
chest!"
That day McCorkle, the grand-aunt to whom they refer
as their grandmother, began to teach them the intricacies of
bead work. Their enthusiasm has never dimmed. When they
visit a supply store today, it's like the first trip to their
grandmother's trunk. "We're like kids in a candy store!" giggles
Delcie.
McCorkle watched over the girls as they carefully developed
their skills. When their early efforts resulted in lumpy lines of
beading, her remark was "The babies will like it!" Both their hard
work and their grandmother's patience are evidenced in the intri
cate pieces they produce today, designs which are incorporated
into purses, jewelry, wall hangings and traditional garments.
More recendy, Delcie and Rose have themselves become men
tors - to their niece Carmella. Although many years ago she first
learned "lazy stitch" (where a line of threaded beads is tacked to
the background at intervals) from her grandmother, Lucy Miller,
Carmella later turned her talents to other art forms, silversmithing
and painting.
A return to Oregon prompted her to observe the more intricate pat
terns her aunts created with "line-" or "string-work" in which a threaded
line of beads is painstakingly stitched to the background between each
bead, In the traditional manner of learning, she worked with them for
many months, honing her skills, creating her own interpretations within
the medium.
The Scotts' designs can be easily identified by those familiar with local
beadworkers. A subde integration of theme, pattern, colors, and technique
create a personality. They enjoy creating scenes with wildlife -i- elk, deer,
bear. Rodeo themes are also favorites as all three women as well as the
extended Scott family have been involved with rodeo and equestrian pur
Suits for generations.
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Dclcie's central design is often a stylized ani
mal, surrounded by a traditional geometric pat
tern. Rosie is currendy working on a vibrant design
inspired by a star quilt. Carmella enjoys creating painterly, free-flowing
interpretations of traditional nature scenes.
A recent work, which she plans to enter in May's "Indian Art North
west" exhibition, portrays a bear fishing for salmon in a cascading stream.
The piece is alive with motion - water sparkles, salmon jump and
twist as light reflects off their scales. Carmella smiles, "I could
hear the water rushing as I beaded it."
The spontaneous appearance belies the thought that goes into
sucha piece. Carmella hasfxamined dead 'fish to observe their
anatomy. The curvilinear placement of the lines of beads, the
subde interplay of colors as well as the shapes of the beads are
elements she manipulates to create the desired effect.
Glancing at the beads before her, she confides, "Sometimes I
will stare at a nile of beads and be absolutely blank. Then, erradu-
(ji ally, combinations of colors will begin to appear."
A Often the planned image never materializes. "I've taken things
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She laughingly relates her attempts to bead the heads of two horses
- working , ripping out, reworking. "No matter how hard I tried,
they ended up looking like Doberman Pinschers! I gave up!"
Delcie begins her work with a rough sketch, but adds that the piece
takes on a life of its own as it is being created.
The three agree they are never "finished." While working on current
projects, they are bombarded with ideas for the next - new designs,
different implementations of techniques, theories that have to be tried.
"As you're ending one project, you're opening up to new ideas. You
try to be unique and different all the time," says Delcie who experi
ments with basketry as well.
Although the medium is traditional, changes have occurred since
the days when Josie McCorkle beaded on hides carefully tanned by
her husband. If they can find them today, the Scotts and other contempo
rary headers save hand-tanned hides for special projects, instead utilizing
commercially prepared hides or synthetic materials for the backgrounds of
their work. Similarly, strong nylon thread has replaced the less durable
natural materials of Nettie Howard's era.
Contemporary beads can be dazzling in their array of shapes, cuts and
colors; but to the Scotts' experienced eyes, these imported examples don't
have the luster and beauty of the more irregularly shaped ones of their
grandmother's day. As Delcie lovingly fingers ropes of antiques passed on
by their grandmother, . she explains their use is limited to either unique
pieces or as accents within a larger pattern.
The three enjoy working on gifts for friends and family. Rose's quilt
design, which incorporates some of Josie McCorkle's trade beads, is des
tined for her grandson Scottie. The moccasins Carmella made her grand
son have had to be reworked several times because of all the loving wear he
has given them. Delcie plans to begin some chaps for a bronc-riding nephew.
However, they do sell to the public as well, and, like most artists, find
marketing to be one of the more difficult aspects of their work. Their art
can be found at The Museum at Warm Springs and Carmella is experi
menting with a web site.
But, if they never sold their work, they would continue to create it.
Modest about their accomplishments, the three are quick to mention other
Scott family members who are also award-winning headers. "We don't do
it to show off or be competitive. We just have to create."
Through their art, they can embrace family past and present. Carmella
finds comfort in continuing a family tradition. "They taught me. They
were taught by their grandmother. Now I am teaching my niece."
No wonder Nettie Howard is smiling.
Delcie Scott (top center) and niece Carmella (working in
the lower-middle right) are following the traditions passed
on by Josie McCorkle (bottom left)
and Nettie Howard (oval-shaped photograph).
Story by Martha Lawrence
Spilyay photos by Martha Lawrence and Tina Aguilar
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