By DONNA CRONK dcronk@thecouriertimes.com
Not only do they carry their Native American culture into the lives of others with their traditional and non-traditional arts and crafts, but Henry County residents Robin McBride Scott and her daughter, Emeline, 9, found themselves in elite company this summer.
Robin, accompanied by Emeline, was selected as one of about 75 North American weavers to demonstrate on the Washington, D.C. Mall during the 40th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Theme for the June 30-July 11 event was “Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions.”
There, the Scotts met people from all over the world who stopped by their area to learn more about the history and how-tos of working with river cane. The visitors were among more than a million who trek to the festival annually, making it, according to Robin, the largest festival in the nation.
In addition to her demonstrations, exhibition and lectures on traditional Cherokee and Southeastern river cane basketry and mat making, Robin had the distinction of being named a member of the Curatorial Advisory Council for the exhibit. The exhibit will continue through a traveling display throughout the county and perhaps abroad. Robin is hoping to make appearances with it.
Emeline also demonstrated her talents, following in her mother's as well as her ancestors' footsteps, as part of the New Generation/Youth Curatorial Advisors.
The Scotts are part Cherokee from both sides of Robin's family. Robin is a New Castle native while her husband, Mark, is originally from LaPorte. He is a science teacher at Northside Middle School in Muncie and is a varsity wrestling coach.
Some of Robin's other favorite Native American mediums include porcupine quillwork, beadwork and clothing. Non-traditional representations of her heritage are found in her art through painting, metal smithing, clay sculptures and her illustrations.
In 1995, she illustrated “Spring Planting” and in 1999, she did a children's book featuring her work called “Mrs. Scott's Beautiful Art.” In 2001, her illustration for a Cherokee Woven Basket was found in another publication.
Robin's interest in the art of her heritage has always been a part of her life. The Cherokee connection was talked about growing up and her grandmother knew how to do beadwork. “The art always appealed to me,” she says of the beadwork, quillwork and basketry. “They drew me in.”
She earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts in graphic design at Ball State University with minors in metal smithing and Native American studies.
Since then, she has developed her own occupation as an artist- educator. “You won't really find that in any job description,” Robin says. “I found a way to make a niche for myself.”
She enjoys her work in presenting lectures, demonstrating her work, writing articles, researching and consulting.
This most recent recognition in Washington, D.C. was an honor for both the mother and the daughter. Emeline enjoys basketry and has fun helping her mom with her varied works.
At the festival, she learned out to make woven bracelets from the Hawaiian artisans and they thought so highly of the little girl that they “adopted” her and presented her with a variety of their creations. She also had the distinction of going into the private world of the collections department of the National Museum of the American Indian
.
Emeline is a fourth grader at Blue River Elementary School. “I like to make things,” she says, adding that she would like to continue her mom's creative traditions. Among her interests include a fondness for school, cheerleading, a love of nature and her distinction of being near the black-belt status in karate.
As for Robin, it had long been a goal to demonstrate on the National Mall. “It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing ...” she says, adding that she was the only weaver from Indiana and she also had the recognition of being featured on a larger-than-life promotional sign.
On a deeper level, she says the art is her way of connecting with ancestors. “A lot of native people believe you can't know where you're going unless you know where you've come from.”To learn more about Robin's art and a Smithsonian link, she welcomes visitors to her Web site at: www.honoringtheancestors.com