Martha Berry is a real-life treasure! No really—she’s recognized as a Cherokee National Treasure.
Born in the late 40s, Berry was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She started her art career very early as she made her own clothes even before being ten as her mother and grandmother taught her how to sew early on. This led her to becoming a seamstress and eventually branching out to beadwork.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Berry_%28artist%29
The artist’s artwork expresses contemporary themes of duality, change, loss, conflict, etc. This is supported by how she uses unique stitch used only in Cherokee beadwork, which she largely helped revive. Her techniques are also based on Southeastern sashes from the 18th and 19th century.
Using this, she creates beaded bags, sashes, and shoes with intricate designs.
http://www.berrybeadwork.com/.
Martha Berry has played a critical role in reviving the Cherokee nation. As she shows more of her work at exhibits such as the Cherokee Heritage Center, the artist plans to spread her culture even further.
“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” (link).