Southeastern Art Show and Market Judge's Award
Shelby received the Judge’s Award at the 2020 Virtual Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) for her 21st Century Hatchet Woman!
This award is especially thrilling as three years ago this month Shelby was so inspired by all of the talented artists at the SEASAM that she bought a small loom and taught herself how to bead. Tonight her 21st Century Hatchet Woman won an award at that very same show. Shelby says, “All I've got to say is believe in your dreams and pursue them with everything you have!”
Shelby shared more about the piece on the SEASAM site: “I’ve always been inspired by the stories of our legendary Chickasaw hatchet women who are remembered for fiercely defending our villages from the French in the 1720s. This beaded portrait created on the loom features a young Chickasaw woman of today (my niece Hannah Littlefield to be precise!) shown with traditional facial tattoos that were common for our women, along with an unconquerable glare for her opponent and the weapons of choice: hatchets. She is a modern warrior woman to inspire the generations to come after us, and those of us living today, of our fierce legacy of strength and protection as Chickasaw women.”
Prints are available of this piece on Shelby’s store.