Lisa Kamahamak Lynch (Inupiaq) Artist Talk, Beadwork: A Quiet Luxury

June 14th 2024. Sheldon Jackson Museum Artist-in-residence Lisa Kamahamak Lynch (Inupiaq) gave an artist talk entitled, “Beadwork: A Quiet Luxury” to demystify misconceptions about how to find and buy indigenous-made artwork, clothing, and jewelry in Alaska.
Lynch explains the thoughts behind creating this program, “There is a misconception that locally made beadwork or indigenous made beadwork is more expensive or not as valuable as jewelry bought from online large markets. Besides my own experience as a craftsman and artist, there seems to be evidence to support the opposite of this common thought. In many cases, we will find that buying locally from a tribe or craftsperson will actually be more economical.”
The 2024 Alaska Native Artist Residency Program at the Sheldon Jackson Museum is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Baranof Lodge, and private donors.