Description

Three Sisters is a set of three baskets, one representing corn, one representing squash and one representing beans. Corn is inspired by the Cherokee White Eagle Dent Corn, squash is inspired by the North Georgia Candy Roaster, an heirloom squash originating with the Cherokee Nation in the 1800s. Beans are inspired by the Cherokee Trail of Tears Pole Bean. All of these varieties were grown and eaten by Cherokees.

About the Artist

Cherokee Nation citizen Lydia Mae Vann was born in Tahlequah, OK, in August 1986, to Cecil and Sherrie Vann. She is the great-granddaughter of Lydia Crittenden Vann, who was a member of the Nighthawk Society and later became a charter member of the Illinois River Church, which was allotted land on the Illinois River. She, along with her sister, retains a parcel of riverfront land from that original allotment. Lydia attended a basket-weaving class taught by Cherokee National Treasure Lena Stick in July 2023, where she fell in love with the craft. She then attended a class taught by Cherokee National Treasure Anna Sixkiller in May 2024. What started as a casual hobby turned into a passion. Lydia dyes her own reed, experimenting with natural dyes such as coffee, tea, and various fruits and vegetables, and mixing commercial dyes to create unique colors. She has also incorporated cotton embroidery thread, acrylic yarn, and natural fiber jute into her baskets. She enjoys weaving traditionally shaped baskets and creating uniquely shaped baskets. Some of those unique creations include mushrooms, strawberries, jack-o’-lanterns, snowmen, Easter eggs, holiday ornaments, and two nightlight mushrooms, which are lit with string lights woven into the mushroom top. Basket weaving has become a very meaningful and, on some level, spiritual activity for Lydia. After her mother’s passing in March 2024, she stopped weaving for a time. Her family, especially her father, encouraged her to continue weaving. She found that weaving provided her with a quiet time to reflect on fond memories and reconnect with God. All of her baskets are woven with happy memories, some sad, and even some literal blood, sweat, and tears.

Pickup & Shipping

All artworks sold will be shipped from the gallery after the show closes. Packages should go out no later than September 20, 2025. Visit here to learn more about shipping and handling as well as tax-exempt purchases.