Beaded Bag by Debra Box, Glass Seed Beads and Deer Hide
Artist Statement
Debra Box is a registered Southern Ute who didn’t expect her life to take an unforeseen turn into the art world. Debra experimented in traditional, museum-quality beadwork making beaded items for her and her husband. They participated in mountain man rendezvouses. It was a chance trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1986, they came upon the Santa Fe Indian Market. It is a yearly Native American art market which draws collectors from all over the world to view and buy Native American art. Debra applied to the market in 1987 and has participated every year. Debra is recognized for her beadwork and her painted rawhide containers. Debra’s rawhide containers are based on storage containers her ancestors used to store their everyday items and possessions. Debra loves to research beadwork and the rawhide containers when traveling to various museums. She has had the privilege to have her artwork bought by museums, celebrities, journalists and fashion designers.