Interwoven Cultural Traditions with Kelly Church

On this episode of Beyond the Art, Cray is joined by fifth-generation basket maker, Kelly Church. Kelly is a member of the Gun Lake Band in Michigan and a Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Ojibwe descendent. 

In this conversation, Kelly talks about the Native American art world, her experiences with art, and her eye for selecting the best black ash tree to provide the best material for her to create a vast array of baskets, from designed black ash baskets to Summer Strawberry Blossoms. Kelly gives us an insight on how her family inspired her to create art. She also emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community, with making baskets for people who helped her grandfather. Through her art, Kelly hopes to honor her Native American heritage and share her culture with the world.