Beyond Buckskin is proud to introduce the fabulous Ms. Kristen Dorsey.Dorsey is a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation. She is a silversmith artist who seeks to bring the power and beauty of ancient Southeast Native American symbols to the present through her exquisite jewelry collections.
Always an eye on the past, Dorsey brings the meanings and stories forward with each of her creations.
In addition to holding a BFA in studio art with a concentration in small and large metals from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Dorsey also earned a BA in American studies with a concentration in Native American studies from Tufts University, giving her jewelry an added academic punch. This combo gave her the needed background to focus on issues in cultural preservation and techniques in revitalizing Chickasaw visual languages.
Her work reflects the rich history of Native American southeastern adornment and jewelry traditions, as well as Chickasaw cultural values and history.
"I believe that jewelry is a sacred narrative. Jewelry captures a moment of significance for the wearer, it marks important transitions in a life, it symbolizes relationships with one another, with one’s community, with one’s cultural identity, and with one’s spirituality."
Click here to see more of Dorsey's work.
