Elizabeth James-Perry: Creating Timeless Connections

As a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe on Martha’s Vineyard, Elizabeth James-Perry’s artistry is drawn from her culture, community and the land her ancestors have lived on for thousands of years. A past grantee of Mass Cultural Council and a recipient of the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship award, Elizabeth’s artistic prowess lies in the traditional arts of Northeastern Native wampum making and textiles. Using hand tools and gathered natural materials like quahog shells and plant fibers, she expertly crafts beautiful pieces of wampum.

Recently, the National Endowment for the Arts paid tribute to Elizabeth and her profound contributions through a video in their National Heritage Fellows Tributes series. In it, she eloquently articulates her philosophy, emphasizing the balance and interconnectedness of all things in the natural world. Every element, from the quahog shells she gathers for wampum and the ocean to the sand and the birds, is intertwined, and she hopes to continue to share her knowledge with future generations. In the field of folk and traditional arts, she stands as a beacon for cultural preservation, environmentalism and stewardship.