Jennie Wilson

Bio/Artist Statement:

Thank you for looking at my work. I have been making art from natural materials for my entire life. My goal is to make well crafted objects that bring beauty to people's daily lives as they use or wear my work. The actual making of the work brings peace and balance to my life. When I make things, I am thinking good thoughts and wishing the best for my family, my friends and colleagues, and the future owner of the item.

The clay I use is from beds in Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. I love the beauty of clay from all over the world, but I choose to use earthenware clay that is connected to my roots in this continent. Four generations of ancestors on my father's side were quarry workers along the Platte river in Eastern Nebraska. They dug the clay and rocks that built Sarpy, Douglas, and Lancaster counties.

My mother’s family is from the east, before their removal to Indian Territory on the Trail of Tears. We are Cherokee Nation citizens, and we return to the Nation several times a year to connect with friends, family, and the land. The natural clay I have gathered in Oklahoma is precious to me. I am so thankful for the innate joy I feel when I touch and make things from the clay that is literally a part of who I am.

My most recent work is about my journey connecting to my Cherokee heritage. I have always known my family and history, but it was hard to build a strong connection growing up far away in Omaha. As I grew older, I decided to nurture my connections to Cherokee culture. It is always the responsibility of citizens to uphold Cherokee culture, especially when surrounded by a mainstream culture that does not recognize or understand what is authentically Cherokee. I am so thankful for the many Cherokee individuals who have befriended me and nurtured my efforts to learn foodways, language, cultural practices, and artistic traditions.

My art is a blend of many experiences. I have a traditional college art education and I earned my BFA and teaching certification from the University of Iowa. My most influential professors were David Dunlap and Jude Tallichet. I have also sought traditional knowledge from Cherokee artisans. First and foremost would be the incredible Eastern Band artist Joel Queen. He was the first to share Cherokee pottery with me.

Teaching art is my profession. I love helping my students reach their art goals! Teaching ceramics is so rewarding because clay is medicine. Students grow when they touch the nice clay and make their ideas in 3D with their hands. My favorite teaching situation ever was at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan where I learned skills from artists of all disciplines and I taught the junior campers. My current favorite position is at Skutt Catholic High School where I have grown as a teacher and person for the last many years. My teaching assignments include Ceramics and Sculpture, Digital Image class, Animation, and Yearbook.

When I sell my art, all the profits are used to invest in my collection of art made by Cherokee people. Purchasing and collecting art made by Cherokee is very important to me. It is an act of sovereignty to support my Nation and the individuals who carry on the traditions of art making that were passed down in their families.