Denise L. Emerson

Tribe: Skokomish / Navajo
Based In: Seattle, WA
Email: dineskok@gmail.com
Social Media: @dineskok
Website: etsy.com/shop/NeeceesAncestralArt

About the Artist
I was born in Shelton, Washington eldest daughter of Bertha Allen who was an enrolled Twana (Skokomish) Tribal Member and Danny Emerson, Sr. who was an enrolled Diné (Navajo) Tribal Member from Sanostee, New Mexico. Bertha and Danny met when attending Chemawa Indian Boarding School in Salem, Oregon. After graduating from the boarding school, they married and raised their five children in Seattle, Washington. During my childhood I watched my parents be creative in different ways. My father oil painted and sketched while my mother sewed and beaded during her free time. I believe I inherited both of my parent’s artistic talents and skills. As I watched them in awe creating with their own hands, I wanted to be like them. My sketchbook went with me everywhere including when I visited my aunt on the Skokomish reservation. I sketched during the drive to and from the reservation, and whenever my creative energy pushed me to draw. During my teenage years I began painting with acrylics, beading, and sewing, expanding my artistic talents, and later studied graphic design at UW to bring design training to my work. Now I use Excel to design every piece with the family esthetic in heart and mind.

Generations 2

digitally created artwork printed on plexiglass, 2019
photo by Mel Carter

Elderly Skokomish Woman Bag

seed beads, suede, and shell, 2016
photo by Mel Carter

I loved the photo of this elderly Skokomish woman and I saw it as a challenge to create the shadows in her face as well as illustrate her natural hair with shades of gray and black. I finished the composition by placing baskets in the foreground, with the Skokomish dog symbol on the basket.

Elderly Skokomish Woman Bag (alternate view)

photo by Mel Carter

Elderly Skokomish Woman Bag (alternate view)

photo by Mel Carter

Coast Salish Peoples Bag

seed beads, suede, and shell, 2017
photo by Mel Carter

After graduating from the University of Washington with a BFA in Graphic Design, I began integrating text with historical images of Native people. This was my fourth bag. I loved the photo of the young woman wearing shell earrings, and I felt challenged in beading her. It takes about one year to design, moving the elements of the composition around; I work out color combinations until I feel it is right. Then, I begin beading. It takes longer to design than it does to bead these pieces.

Coast Salish Peoples Bag (alternate view)

photo by Mel Carter

(installation view)

photo by Mel Carter

(installation view)

photo by Mel Carter