Fingerweaving
Karen George
Cherokee Artist and Weaver Special thanks to Mike Crowe, Kody W. Grant, Daniel Sonny Ledford, Matthew Tooni, and Fred WIlnoty, Jr. Interview by Tonya Carroll Photography by Ashley Evans Videography by David Brewin Editing by Katherine Bartel A production of Mountain Heritage Center Dr.…
Read more about Karen GeorgeKaren George
Read more about Karen GeorgeShirley Cloer
Read more about Shirley CloerEd & Christina Goings
Read more about Ed & Christina GoingsKaren George
Finger weaver and basket maker
Cherokee, Qualla Boundary
A once almost-lost art, Cherokee finger weaving is now practiced by a few very talented artists, including Karen George. Rather than using a loom, George ties a hank of many strands of long yarn to the crossbeam of a simple two-legged frame, and weaves the yarns together from the top down, forming a tight fabric sash, often in bright colors and traditional geometrical designs.
Read more about Karen GeorgeShirley Cloer
Fingerweaver, beadworker, potter, and basket maker
Cherokee, NC
Shirley Cloer is a Cherokee artist and manager of the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee. She was just a teenager when she started working at the Village in 1969. The Village has long been an artistically fertile forum for Cherokee artisans to share techniques and ideas with each other, and with young people who aspire to learn their techniques.
Read more about Shirley CloerEd and Christina Goings
Cherokee craft demonstrators
Cherokee, NC (Qualla Boundary)
Ed and Christina Goings are a young Cherokee couple who demonstrate a variety of Cherokee crafts and talk about Cherokee culture. Ed makes white oak baskets, and Christina finger-weaves the distinctive Cherokee sashes and does beadwork. While Christina demonstrates beadwork, Ed discusses the different styles and stitches she uses.
Read more about Ed and Christina Goings