Martha Berry (artist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martha Berry
Born	Oklahoma, United States
Nationality	Cherokee
Education	Family, self-taught
Known for	Beadwork
Style	Southeastern Woodland beadwork
Movement	Traditional Southeastern beadwork
Awards	Cherokee National Treasure, 2013; Cherokee Nation Tradition Bearer Award, 2015; Cherokee Nation "Honored Elder," 2023; Delegate to the Cherokee Nation Constitution Convention, 1999; 2001 Cherokee Nation Presenter, John F. Kennedy School of Governance, Tribes Moving Forward Conference.

Martha Berry is a talented Cherokee artist. She is famous for her amazing beadwork. She helped bring back old Cherokee and Southeastern beadwork styles. These styles were used even before the Cherokee people were forced to move from their lands. Martha has won many awards, like the Cherokee National Treasure. Her beautiful art is displayed in museums across the United States.

Martha Berry's Early Life

Martha Berry was born in 1948. She grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Martha is a registered citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Her grandmother and mother taught her to sew and embroider when she was just five years old. By age nine, she was already making her own clothes!

When Martha was 20, she became a professional seamstress. Later, she learned how to create detailed beadwork art. She taught herself the old art of Cherokee beadwork. She did this by looking at photos of old items. She also studied Cherokee beaded items at the Smithsonian Institution.

Martha Berry's Amazing Art

Martha Berry creates many beaded items. These include bandolier bags, moccasins, belts, and purses. She often uses beadwork designs that are very old. These designs came from ancient Mississippian pottery. They then became part of traditional Southeastern beadwork from the 1700s and 1800s.

Martha found a special stitch used only on Southeastern sashes. She is known for bringing back the art of Cherokee beadwork. This art had almost disappeared for many years. Her art shows ideas like how things can be two different ways. It also shows how life changes over time. Martha's beadwork also shares "current day feelings of conflict, loss, distortion and confusion."

After she was named a Cherokee National Treasure, Martha talked about her work. She said, "I want to make beautiful things. I want to teach more and more people to do the same. And I want to grow more and more teachers of traditional Cherokee beadwork."

Special Projects and Exhibitions

Martha Berry took part in a special program. It was for Native American community scholars at the Smithsonian Institution. She visited their collections. There, she did more research on old Southeastern beadwork. This research helped her create her own art.

In 2008, Martha Berry organized an art show. It was called Beadwork Storytellers: A Visual Language. This show was at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Park Hill, Oklahoma. The exhibition included beadwork from a museum in Scotland. These pieces had not been seen in the United States for almost 200 years! Martha also wrote the book for the show.

About Martha's Family

Martha Berry lives in Rowlett, Texas. She lives with her husband, Dave. Dave is a journalist who is now retired. Her daughter, Christina Berry, is a writer and photographer. Christina also manages a website called "All Things Cherokee."

Martha was a delegate at the 1999 Cherokee Nation Constitution Convention. This meeting was in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Her role helped the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma become stronger. It also helped them show they were a capable, independent nation. Martha is still an active member of several Cherokee groups today.