Artist Statement
My work is a dialogue between the ancestral and the contemporary, a slow meditation in glass and light. Every bead I stitch is a word in a story passed down through generations of Ojibwe women in my family. I seek to honor the traditional floral motifs of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, while exploring the modern identity of an Indigenous artist today. By blending traditional teachings with modern design elements, I aim to create pieces that act as heirlooms for the future, carrying the resilience and beauty of our culture into new spaces.
Artist Bio
I first started beading at seven years old, learning traditional beadwork from my aunts and grandmother. Today, I run Waabooz Beading and Waabooz Cosmetics from my Minneapolis studio, where I love mixing my Ojibwe heritage with my sparkly nail life. Helping others into the world of beading is a big part of what I do through beading workshops with Artstart all over the state through different library systems here in Minnesota. It’s been an absolute honor to see my pieces displayed in some pretty cool spots including but not limited to the Bell Museum, the Textile Center, the University of Minnesota, Mille Lacs Indian Museum, Twin Cities Pride and the Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport. I have also been blessed to work with amazing organizations such as the Minnesota Vikings, the City of Columbia Heights, the Northeast Minneapolis Artists Association and the Minnesota Zoo!
Ojibwe Inaajimowin
An exploration of the beadwork evolution at Waabooz Beading and the preservation of Mille Lacs traditions.
Bell Museum
A look at Alicia’s project and research regarding “Beading the Wildflowers of Minnesota”Read Feature
Voyage Magazine
Spotlight on the Life work of Alicia De La Cruz