Gourd Artist visits the Lumbee Housing Tribal Complex with Gifts
 (June 2010) A Lumbee gourd artist honored the Tribe with a gift on Monday, June 7, 2010 at the Lumbee Tribal Housing Complex.
“Through the colors of the Tribal Logo, I felt I could give a gift of thanks to honor our Lumbee ancestors as well as our future generations,” commented Artist Joan Blackwell. Blackwell is retired from the Department of Defense and recently moved back home in September of 2009.(Joan C. Blackwell is the granddaughter of Martin Luther Lowry Senior of Pembroke, NC.) She recalls discovering her talent as a Tennessee resident when she was at a friend’s house. Blackwell became intrigued by the texture of the gourd, which is similar to wood, and asked if she could have the object of her passion; though at the time she didn’t know was a gourd.
Blackwell has been painting gourds for 6 years and while in Tennessee she taught classes for beginners on how to grow and harvest gourds to turn them into works of art. “It’s really an honor when tribal members use their time and talent and present cultural gifts of this nature to be displayed in the Tribal Housing Complex,” stated Lumbee Tribal Administrator Dr. Rose Marie Lowry-Townsend. Blackwell commented that her desire is to eventually start teaching her skill within Lumbee Country, “I want to contribute to the community,” she responded. She has paired with Volunteer Coordinator Morgan Hunt Warriax to discuss how to open avenues toward volunteering her time and talent.
According to Blackwell there is a process to her work from finding the gourds, processing them and finally turning them into artwork. Most of her gourds are turned into bird houses, but some are turned into whimsical animals, tribal masks or bowls. She also has her own website where interested individuals can view her work and contact her to have a one of kind design made, “no two gourds are ever the same and I never know what I am going to do with a gourd,” she responded while explaining her process. For more information on Joan Blackwell please visit, http://blackwellgourddesigns.synthasite.com/ or you may email her at blackjo1234@aol.com.
CONTACT:
Kendra Danielle Chavis, Public Affairs Specialist
Office: 910.522.2187
Email: kdchavis@lumbeetribe.com |
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